How can charging station users charge their vehicles healthily? Minimize energy loss and maintain your car.

To maximize battery health and minimize degradation during charging for new energy electric vehicles, the key lies not in blindly pursuing “high power” or “fast charging,” but in selecting scientifically sound charging strategies based on battery type, usage scenarios, and charging habits. Below are systematic recommendations grounded in industry consensus and real-world testing data:

 

 

I. Core Principles: “Shallow Charge and Shallow Discharge + Primarily Slow Charging + Avoidance of Extreme Conditions””

Principle	Instruction	Influence to charging llife
Battery level remains at 20%–80%	Avoid prolonged periods of full charge (100%) or low charge (<10%).	Extends battery cycle life by over 30%
Daily use with slow charging(AC Charging	Power: 3.7 kW–22 kW, current stability	Low battery heat generation, low cell stress
Fast charging is only for emergencies.	2-3 times per month; avoid frequent use.	Fast charging accelerates lithium dendrite growth, leading to capacity degradation.

✅ Real-world case study: A driver adhering to the “20%-80% charge range + overnight slow charging during off-peak hours” maintained 92% battery health after three years. In contrast, a user who frequently used fast charging and consistently charged to 100% saw their battery health drop to just 78% after two years.

II. Different Battery Types Require Different Charging Strategies
1. Ternary lithium batteries (as used in most Tesla, NIO, and XPeng models)

• Features: High energy density, but prone to degradation under high temperatures or when fully charged.。

• Recommended charging method:
  Charge to 80%–90% daily;
• Fully charge (100%) before a long trip, and recharge to 80% as soon as possible after use.
  Avoid leaving the battery fully charged for extended periods (e.g., charge to 50% before parking during holidays).。
  • Lithium iron phosphate batteries (e.g., BYD Blade Battery, Wuling Hongguang EV)
    Features: Long service life, resistant to overcharging, but poor low-temperature performance and prone to inaccurate battery level display.
  • Recommended charging methods：
• Can be charged to 100% frequently;
• It is recommended to fully charge the battery at least once a week to calibrate the BMS (Battery Management System) power display.
  Before charging in winter, start the vehicle to warm up the battery (improve charging efficiency).

III. What is the ideal charging power (in kilowatts)?
There is no universal “best kW rating”; instead, it depends on matching the specific scenario:：

Uses cases	Recommeded charging methods	Power Range	Reason
Normal uses（parking at evening）	AC Mounted Home Charging	7kW–11kW	Charging Softlg,fully charge in 6-8 hours，Great to batteries
Commercial sites/Office Recharger（Daytime）	Public AC Slow Charging Station	7kW–22kW	Recharge 2–4 Hours，Avoid damage from fast charging
Long distance travel/Emergency refueling	DC Fast charging	60kW–180kW	Charger 30 minutes to  30%→80%，Every mounth≤2cs
High performance 800V Car model（like Xiaopeng G9）	Super Charging ile	300kW–480kW	For short term use only within 10%–30% SOC ，not for daily use

📌 Important reminders：

• For standard family vehicles (400V platform), there’s no need to pursue 300kW+ ultra-fast charging. The vehicle itself doesn’t support it, and it only adds strain to the power grid.；
• The 7kW AC charging station is the “golden power” for the vast majority of users: low cost, easy installation, and minimal battery degradation.。

IV、5 practial ways to extend battery life

1. Automatically charg during off-peak hours

Set charging stations to automatically activate between 11:00 PM and 7:00 AM to save money (0.3 yuan/kWh vs. 1.2 yuan during daytime) and avoid peak grid demand.

2. Caution in High/Low Temperature Environments

• Summer: Avoid fast charging immediately after prolonged sun exposure; turn on the air conditioning to cool down first.；
• Winter: Before charging, use the app to remotely activate “battery preheating” (if available).

1. For long-term storage, maintain a 50% charge level
   If the vehicle remains idle for more than one week, maintain the battery charge between 40% and 60%, and recharge it every one to two months

4. Turn off the high power electric appliance  

Do not use the air conditioning or seat heating while charging to avoid additional load affecting charging efficiency.

5. Peform a full charge(lithium iron phosphate) or equalization charge periodly

Once a month, charge to 100% and let it sit for 1 hour to help the BMS calibrate the battery capacity.

五、In a nutshell

For daily use, stick to 7kW slow charging, keeping the battery level between 20% and 80%. Limit fast charging to no more than twice a month—this is currently the most battery-friendly charging method with the lowest degradation.
High-power ultra-fast charging (e.g., 320kW, 480kW) is an “emergency solution” designed for high-end 800V vehicles. Ordinary users need not pursue it, nor will they find it necessary. The core principle of scientific charging is “gentle, regular, and avoiding extremes,” not “faster is better.