Should i charge my EV on TOU rates every night or only when low?

[EricHG]

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 60 miles round trip. My utility offers a time-of-use rate, but I'm not sure if plugging in every single night, even when the battery is still half full, is better for the battery long-term than waiting until it gets lower.

[Zachary.L]

I plug in most nights after work, even if the battery is half full. The night rate is cheap here, and I like waking up with a decent chunk for the 60 mile round trip. So far the battery feels fine.

[Luna.W]

I’ve toyed with the idea of letting it sit to avoid constant topping off. Some days I top up to 80 or 90 and call it a day, other days I don’t. It’s not obvious what actually helps long term.

[Abigail42]

Do you have a TOU plan and a smart charger? I’m curious if charging only during the cheap window actually saves much if you still end up at 100% by morning.

[Gregory_C]

On weekends I sometimes take a longer route just to see how a bit of extra range sits in the pack, then I back off and charge normally. It’s a little experiment that’s mostly about mood more than numbers.