Hey all - Anyone have any thoughts / tips on how to avoid damaging the traction battery and prolong life? Specifically, is it OK to charge the car when I've only got 1-2 hours and just want to get some charge even though I can't complete it? Also, is it a bad idea if I plug in for an overnight charge and don't use the timer (i.e. will the battery charge up, drain slightly, then charge again and somehow damage itself)? I'm trying to use EV as much as possible, but don't want to degrade my traction battery by charging too frequently or not doing a complete charge each time or staying plugged in once charged. Basically, I'm confused. Any guidance appreciated.
It boils down to the basics. Heat is a fundamental enemy. If the battery is hot from recent heavy usage or from sitting in the sun baking, you should delay recharging until it has cooled to prolong life. Prius does a great job of protecting from other exposures. It won't let you deep discharge. So you never have to worry about that. It won't allow you to rapid draw from it. For that matter, you cannot recharge either. You also don't have to be concerned about partial charges. If you only have an hour available, that's fine. It doesn't require or even expect full every time. Just enjoy the EV.
If you're finished driving for the day and the EV miles are almost depleted. Set to timer to charge it in the cool hours of the early morning before you're ready to go again.
While I'd agree with that in principle, I've already had two occasions when I came home, didn't expect to go anywhere for the rest of the day, so I set the timer. Then I decided to make a quick grocery store run, and had no EV for the trip. So now I use the timer at night and charge immediately when I return home in the mornings from my son's school, to work in my home office. That way I always have EV in the daytime.
I'm sort of in the same situation; i sometimes do trips in the morning, and rarely know ahead of time if i'm going to go back out again. So I set the timer to start charging 20 - 30 minutes after I get home. This gives the battery time to cool down, and the car to acclimate to the cool air inside the basement garage.
I'm not worrying too much. During the day, I charge as soon as I pull into the garage. And anytime I can find a plug when I'm out and about. The only time I use the timer is overnight. When the car is parked for the last time for the night, I use the timer so it's ready when I plan on needing it the next morning. I have got to go Level 2 at home! I need 1 hr turn times with a fully charged batter on the weekends and days I'm not working. I used one of Walgreen's L2 charging stations today and it's cool. 1hr. 11min full charge....while I shopped there and somewhere next door.
