What’s the best charging strategy for a 50-mile daily EV commute with TOU rates?

[Michael_H]

I just got my first EV and I'm trying to figure out the best way to handle charging for a daily commute that's about 50 miles round trip. My utility offers a time-of-use rate, but I'm not sure if plugging in every single night is better for the battery long-term than waiting until it gets lower.

[William6]

I’m in the same boat, about 50 miles round trip. I usually plug in every night and cap it around 70–80%. The TOU price window is real money saver for me, so I try to start charging during the cheap hours and stop once it’s in the 70s. The car has plenty of energy for the morning drive, and I haven’t noticed any obvious battery drama after a few months of this pattern.

[SavannahOL]

I did a messy experiment last season where I charged to 100% on weekdays for a week and then dropped to 60–70% the next week. It didn’t seem to change range much day to day, and I’m not sure it really mattered.

[BenjaminD]

Do you actually need to fill up every night, or would saving the full charge for the morning work better for you? With 50 miles, a partial top-up could be enough.

[Frank63]

One day I woke up to a cold morning and saw the range was way off the numbers on the chart. It felt like the car’s comfort zone might be different in winter. I stopped stressing about hitting a precise percentage and just used the cheap window when it made sense.