Last night, I finally charged my car to 100% for the first time! I’ve got a 22 EUV with 7000 miles on it, and it took this long to happen. I am super excited because now I can take longer trips without worrying about the range. What do you all do? Do you still stick to 80% or charge to 100% now? Does it matter if I charge to 100% less often, instead of charging every night at 80% like I was? Anyway, I’ve had my Bolt for 6 months, and I love it. It’s the best car I have owned, so easy to drive and maintain, and it’s just fun. The only thing I wish it had is a way to switch the stereo sources from the steering wheel without going through the menu. In my old car, I could just keep pressing a button on the wheel and switch to the next source. That would be a nice touch.
My 2021 was limited until August 23, but I was able to unlock the full range just in time for a Labor Day road trip. I usually set my max to 95% for Level 1 and Level 2 charging. When I’m fast charging, I stop at 90%, unless someone’s waiting behind me, then I stick to the 30-minute rule to be polite.
I only charge to 70% since it’s enough for daily driving. If I’m planning a longer trip, I charge to 100% but schedule the car to finish charging close to the time I’ll be leaving, so it doesn’t sit at 100% for too long. Technically, this is probably better for the Bolt’s battery, but maybe I’m overthinking it. Some people have over 100,000 miles and charge to 100% all the time with no real issues. I think Chevy built the car to handle being charged to 100% daily even for folks who don’t know a lot about EVs. But as early adopters, we tend to overthink things like this!
Why was it limited in the first place??
I would say keep doing what you’re doing. Only charge to 100% when you need the range. It’s better for the battery in the long run.
Check out this video from Engineering Explained: [How To Ruin Your Electric Car’s Battery NMC Edition: YouTube
The title is a bit dramatic, but the science in the video is solid.
Key points:
- Avoid keeping your battery at 100% for long periods, especially in hot weather.
- Don’t wait too long to recharge; stick to a middle range (like 60%-80%).
- Charge to 100% only when needed.
My 2023 EUV wasn’t limited, but I’ve only charged to 100% twice for long trips. Most of the time, I charge to around 66% and let it drop to 33% before plugging it back in.