Charging to 100% occasionally ?

[JIS]

I have only done 1500km in my new MG4 and I am still learning. I had mentally decided that it was best to restrict all charging to 80% and operate within the 20%-80% range. However, an EV dealer (not MG) suggested that it was essential to charge to 100% occasionally. That was to ensure all the battery cells went through a complete charge cycle and would ensure the cell mapping was kept current and was good to have all cells going through a charge cycle. They warned against NOT doing this since the uncharged cells could deteriorate faster ….
What are your thoughts and experience please ?
N.B. I searched other threads on this but failed to find this aspect. Apologies if I am duplicating a similar thread.

John

 

[Griffian]

I do an equalisation charge from under 10% to 100% every few months on our Trophy ER (77kWh).

 

[JIS]

I do an equalisation charge from under 10% to 100% every few months on our Trophy ER (77kW).

Many thanks but the reason is because ...?

 

[Everest]

It allows the battery's BMS to perform a balance of the cells, to keep them at the same charge state.

 

[Everest]

P.S. See also page 176 of your manual re "equalisation charge"

 

[JIS]

It allows the battery's BMS to perform a balance of the cells, to keep them at the same charge state.

I don't pretend to understand the technicalities but I have understood that it IS a good thing to do a complete charge to 100% at home on a slow charger (not a super fast DC charger). Many thanks for this.

 

[JIS]

P.S. See also page 176 of your manual re "equalisation charge"

Yes, RTFM is always a good idea LOL !

 

[webhiker]

Yes, RTFM is always a good idea LOL !

Amazing that this is still the best advice.
This should be pinned at the top of the forum

 

[ReintjeWA]

Our lithium ion batteries, although they are Nickel Manganese Cobalt (NMC) are actually quite low in nickel, and therefore shouldn’t suffer too much in terms of degradation. I only ever fast charge and am not worried if I have to go above 80% for longer road trips every few weeks (or when I tell the car to keep charging because I’m still waiting for my Juice order so I don’t get slugged with idle fees)

I don’t have a 7kW charger at home and don’t trust the alley behind the house enough to leave the granny charger plugged in over night. We’ll be moving next year so until then I just use fast chargers when I need to. A few people around here have been doing the same and it appears all is just fine.

 

[kenneth104]

NMC battery there is no problem as long as the battery is not kept at a high level for a long time, such as using it for 10% and then recharging it.

 

[decrep]

The other thing with charging to 100% means the friction brakes get used, helps stop them from rusting up due to very low use.

 

[DYWLC]

I'm charging to 90% every time now as the heater & heated seats and steering wheel heating is really knocking the range down considerably. I can go to my daughter's in the far end of north Wales and back with about 20 - 30 miles to spare in summer but not now. Luckily I've a nice diesel transit which I've had from new so I use that in winter, does good for it to have a run at the speed limit save the DPF blocking up.

 

[cjmillsnun]

I'm charging to 90% every time now as the heaterm heted seats and steering wheel heating is really knocking the range down considerably. I can go to my daughter's and back in the far end of north Wales and back with about 20 - 30 miles to spare in summer but not now. Luckily I've a nice diesel transit which I've had from new so I use that in winter, does good for it to have a run at the speed limit save the DPF blocking up.

That won't be the seats and steering wheel doing that. They actually don't take that much range off as they are 12V. All EVs suffer a range drop in the winter. The battery chemistry is affected by the colder weather.

 

[wattmatters]

N.B. I searched other threads on this but failed to find this aspect.

MG4 user manual references on charging:

MG4 EV charging

Hello all, I have just taken possession of my first ev an MG4 Trophy long range and I have a question. Is it ok to use a rapid charger on a regular basis as this is currently my only means available to me to charge my car? I am told it may affect the battery life ? Would appreciate your...

www.mgevs.com

 

[ReintjeWA]

I'm charging to 90% every time now as the heaterm heted seats and steering wheel heating is really knocking the range down considerably. I can go to my daughter's and back in the far end of north Wales and back with about 20 - 30 miles to spare in summer but not now. Luckily I've a nice diesel transit which I've had from new so I use that in winter, does good for it to have a run at the speed limit save the DPF blocking up.

Heated seats and steering wheel use negligible amounts of power. It will be the cold that does this, and your diesel will be affected by this too, it’s just not so noticeable because ICE is already so inefficient.

If you’re struggling with range the best and easiest thing to do is slow down, even 5 mph makes a big difference.

Also, you could pack your granny charger and top up while visiting your daughter, or just top up at a public charger.

 

[decrep]

Why stop at 90%, take it to 100, as long as it doesn't sit at this state of charge for a few days, it doesn't do any harm.