For optimal battery longevity, you should generally avoid charging your Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) to 100% for everyday use. It is best practice to keep the charge level between 20% and 80% to minimize stress on the lithium-ion battery.
The recommendation to limit charging to 80% for daily use is a helpful way of limiting degradation. Technically, the more a lithium battery is charged, the higher the voltage is, which encourages chemical reactions that can degrade the battery more rapidly.
Experts recommend keeping PHEV batteries charged between 20% and 80% to prolong battery life. Charging from 20% to 80% requires less time compared to fully charging from 0% to 100%.
Charging Best Practices
Summary: staying at 90% is healthier than regularly charging to 100%. Charge to 100% when you need the extra range; otherwise aim for ~80--90% to maximize battery lifespan.
That said, while full charging does not inherently harm batteries, it can accelerate battery degradation over time if done frequently. To maximize battery lifespan, you should avoid charging to 100% regularly. Instead, maintaining charge levels between 20% and 80% is optimal.
The 80/20 charging rule is a guideline for lithium-ion batteries (phones, EVs, etc.) suggesting you keep the charge between 20% and 80% for daily use to extend battery longevity, avoiding deep discharges (below 20%) and prolonged full charges (above 80%) that stress the battery's electrodes, thereby slowing degradation and preserving maximum capacity longer, though modern devices have software to help manage this.
To preserve electric range, pre-heat or pre-cool your vehicle while it's still plugged in. This allows the HVAC system to draw power from the wall instead of the battery, so you start your trip with full range.
To get the most out of your hybrid or PHEV, align your charging habits with your driving needs. Traditional hybrids require no external charging, making them easy to maintain. For PHEVs, charge daily if your commute falls within the electric range, and aim to keep the battery between 20% and 80% for optimal health.
Never completely drain the battery (PHEV): Allowing your battery to discharge to zero is every bit as harmful as charging it to 100%. A good rule of thumb is to never let the level of charge dip below 20%. Avoid long periods of non-use: Even when parked, the charge in a hybrid battery is depleting.
Drive Smoothly: Avoid hard acceleration and braking. Maintain Proper Tire Pressure: Check regularly to reduce rolling resistance. Optimize Charging Habits: Keep your battery's charge between 20%-80%. Use Regenerative Braking: Maximize energy recovery while driving.
Hybrid vehicles retain resale value despite market volatility: Cox Automotive. In a comparison from November 2022, the difference in residual values between hybrid and EVs was marginal, with hybrids at 90% and EVs at 88%.
With modern Electric Vehicles (EVs), you don't need to give too much thought to your battery. Manufacturers have built-in precautions so you can't overcharge, over-discharge, or overheat: the three biggest killers of battery longevity.
How to get the best fuel economy from a PHEV around town
What is the 80/20 Rule in EV Charging. Ultimately, the 80/20 rule suggests keeping your EV charged between 20% and 80%, avoiding dipping below or exceeding the range whenever possible.
Heat and Air Conditioning
Controlling the cabin and battery temperature is the biggest power drain second to driving the vehicle.
When it comes to charging your EV, aiming for an 80% maximum charge is better practise than charging all the way to 100%. This might not make much sense if you're new to the EV world, especially if you're used to charging things to 100%, like mobiles or laptops.
Disadvantages of plug-in hybrid cars (PHEVs) include higher upfront costs, the need for regular charging to maximize benefits, potentially poor fuel economy when the battery depletes (due to carrying extra weight), reduced cargo space, complex maintenance with higher potential costs, and a limited electric-only range that might not suit all drivers, plus potential performance trade-offs for efficiency.
Install a home charging point: While you can charge your PHEV using a standard three-pin plug, installing a dedicated home charging point, like our innovative zappi, is much faster and safer. Most PHEVs can fully charge in 2-4 hours with a Level 2 charger.
ELECTRIC VEHICLE (EV) MODE
Manually selected by a button on your console, EV mode maximises your time spent using electric power. The system will only introduce the engine if maximum power is required.
Rowan Atkinson, a self-proclaimed car enthusiast and early EV adopter, wrote a 2023 Guardian op-ed feeling "duped" by EV claims, arguing they aren't the environmental panacea they seem due to battery production pollution and ethical concerns over mining, suggesting keeping petrol cars longer might be better and calling EVs "soulless" despite their performance. His piece sparked criticism, with some blaming it for slowing UK EV adoption, while others defended his reasonable points about EV lifecycle impacts.
Fix battery problems that won't go away
By minimizing stress, charging to 80% helps to slow down the natural process of battery capacity loss over time. This slower degradation translates to a longer overall lifespan for your battery. Personally I've always charged to 100% and don't go below 20% before charging.
If you're charging your phone from 0% to 100% every day, that counts as one charge cycle, meaning that you're quickly shortening your battery's lifespan. If your phone only has the capacity for 300-500 cycles, then charging your phone from 0% to 100% will quickly reduce your battery's lifespan.
Tip #2: Don't let the battery run flat
It probably comes as no surprise that letting your charge drain to 0% can be damaging to the battery. In fact, it's best not to let the battery discharge below 20% really (known as deep discharging). But also…