The good news? Maintaining your EV battery health doesn’t require a technical background or special tools. A few smart habits and a bit of awareness can go a long way. Whether you’re a daily driver or only take your EV out on weekends, these tips will help you maximize battery life, maintain consistent range, and avoid unnecessary degradation.

Let’s walk through the most important practices to keep your battery healthy for the long haul.

1. Charge Smarter, Not Harder

When it comes to an EV battery, more charging isn’t always better. Unlike filling a fuel tank, topping up your battery every time you park—or pushing it to 100% every night—can gradually wear down its capacity.

Keep Your Battery Between 20–80% Most of the Time

Battery chemistry favors balance. Charging to full or letting your battery drop too low too often can accelerate degradation. Aim to stay within the 20% to 80% range for daily use. This helps minimize stress on the battery cells and maintain long-term performance.

Charge in Moderate Temperatures

Both extreme cold and heat can impact charging efficiency and battery health. When possible, charge in a garage or shaded area to reduce temperature-related stress on the battery. If charging in colder conditions, consider preconditioning the battery beforehand to help improve charging performance and protect long-term battery health.

Set Charging Limits

Most modern EVs allow you to set a maximum charge level in the infotainment system or mobile app. If your car lets you cap it at 80%, enable this feature—it’s a simple way to protect your battery without thinking about it every day.

2. Store Your EV the Right Way

Planning to leave your EV parked for a week or more? Maybe you’re going on vacation or parking it over the winter. Long-term storage is one of the most overlooked aspects of battery care.

Charge to 50–60% Before Storage

Storing your battery at full charge or nearly empty can cause chemical imbalance over time. The optimal range for storage is around 50–60%—just enough to keep the battery active without putting it under pressure.

Use a Temperature-Controlled Environment

If you have access to a garage or indoor parking, use it. High heat accelerates battery aging, while freezing conditions can slow down chemical processes. Keeping the battery at a stable, moderate temperature extends its lifespan.

If indoor parking isn’t available:

• In summer, park in the shade.
• In winter, avoid locations with direct snow or ice buildup around the battery.

Enable Storage or “Long-Term” Mode

Some EVs include a battery storage mode that automatically adjusts charging, energy consumption, and thermal management. This feature helps protect the battery during extended parking. Check your owner’s manual or app settings to see if your vehicle supports this.

Start the Vehicle Occasionally

If you’re leaving your EV for several weeks or months, consider starting it every few weeks to maintain system balance. Even if the car isn’t in use, some background systems stay active, slowly draining the battery.

3. Avoid Deep Discharges and Overcharging

Many new EV drivers wonder if it’s okay to run the battery to empty—or to leave it fully charged. In short: doing either occasionally won’t harm the battery, but repeating these extremes often will.

Avoid Letting the Battery Drop Below 10–20%

Lithium-ion batteries don’t respond well to being fully depleted. While most EVs prevent actual “zero” levels, it’s still a good idea to plug in before you drop below 15–20%. Regularly running too low adds wear to the battery and limits regeneration capabilities.

Avoid Leaving Your Battery at 100%

Need a full charge for a long trip? That’s fine. Just don’t leave your EV plugged in at 100% for hours or days. Staying at full charge for long periods can heat the battery and affect longevity.

Unplug After a Full Charge

If you do charge to 100%—say, for a road trip—unplug the vehicle once it reaches that level, or set a scheduled departure time so your car finishes charging just before you leave.

Precondition in Cold Weather Before Charging

If your car allows it, precondition the battery in cold weather before charging. This warms up the cells and allows the car to accept charge more efficiently—reducing strain and improving charge speed.

4. Keep Your Software Up to Date

Your EV isn’t just a car—it’s a connected, intelligent system. Manufacturers regularly release software updates to improve battery management, optimize performance, and correct inefficiencies.

Enable Automatic Updates

Most EVs receive over-the-air (OTA) updates via Wi-Fi or mobile networks. Make sure your car is connected and set to update automatically, or manually check for updates through the infotainment screen or app.

What Software Updates Can Do for Your Battery

• Optimize charging curves (especially for fast charging)
• Improve thermal management
• Extend usable range through efficiency improvements
• Introduce better energy-saving features

Tip: Some updates may only install when the car is parked and charging—so make sure to allow time for updates if prompted.

5. Understand Your Battery Warranty and Health Tools

Knowing what your EV’s battery warranty covers and how to monitor battery health can give you peace of mind—and help you act early if something’s not right.

Check Your Battery Warranty

Most EVs come with a battery warranty of 8 years or around 100,000 miles (160,000 km). These warranties usually guarantee a certain percentage of capacity (often 70%) over the warranty period.

If you notice significant loss in range, your battery may be eligible for service or replacement under warranty—so it’s worth checking your coverage.

Monitor Battery Health Through the App or Dashboard

Some manufacturers provide battery health status in the vehicle interface or companion app. While it might not show exact capacity, it can offer insights on:

• Charging behavior
• Energy usage
• Long-term efficiency trends

Apps like Tesla’s Battery Report or third-party tools such as LeafSpy (for Nissan Leaf) provide deeper diagnostics for some models.

Final Thoughts: A Little Care Goes a Long Way

Your EV battery is a powerful, reliable system—but like anything else, it lasts longer with the right care. By following just a few simple habits, you can:

• Extend your battery’s lifespan
• Maintain better driving range
• Reduce charging costs over time
• Drive more confidently, knowing you’re protecting your investment

Here’s a quick recap of what matters most:

• Stay between 20–80% charge for everyday use
• Use fast charging sparingly
• Charge and store at moderate temperatures
• Avoid deep discharges and long periods at 100%
• Keep your software updated
• Use built-in tools to monitor health and efficiency

Taking care of your EV battery doesn’t require expert knowledge—just a few consistent habits. With proper care, your battery can deliver reliable performance for many years to come.

Planning your next drive?

Use the Allego map to locate charging stations across Europe and power up with confidence—whether you’re driving across town or across borders.