5 ms·

The car doesn't necessarily have to know that someone is planning a 500 mile trip, the car operator can tell it to top up overnight when necessary.

nicoburns 5y ago
What could possibly require you to take an unexpected 500 mile trip at short notice?
- notreallyserio 5y ago
  And without the opportunity to charge at a supercharger on the way?
jqpabc123 5y ago
<i>...the car operator can tell it to top up overnight when necessary.</i> The car operator may not always know when it's necessary --- assuming he is not psychic. He may just top up to be on the safe side.
- gameswithgo 5y ago
  * With lithium ion you don't want to sit at 100% all of the time, but it is fine to always keep it topped off to ~80% or so. Topping it off daily is good. * If you are someone who doesn't want to worry about not going to 100% all of the time the new iron based batteries (featured in base model 3 right now for instance) don't care, you can let those sit at 100%, and they are safer too. The downside is less total range range and/or more weight.
  - jqpabc123 5y ago
    With lithium ion you don't want to sit at 100% all of the time ... Someone who drives infrequently (a senior for example) or has multiple cars could easily leave a car plugged in for days.
    - sliken 5y ago
      Sure, but Tesla recommends charging to 90% for daily use (except for LFP batteries), personally I charge to 85% to help increase battery life. It also helps the battery when it gets cold, the car will use power to help keep battery warm, which also helps increase battery life.
  - Tagbert 5y ago
    GM in their Volt and Bolt holds back a percentage of the battery capacity so that at 100% of charge the battery pack is only charging to 85-90% and when it discharges to 0% the pack is actually not at zero. They do this to limit stress on the cells and to ensure longer service life for the battery pack.
- fomine3 5y ago
  How much possibility? Like once per a decade? Edge case could be ignored by patience at charging station or rent a car.

nicoburns 5y ago

What could possibly require you to take an unexpected 500 mile trip at short notice?

notreallyserio 5y ago
And without the opportunity to charge at a supercharger on the way?

jqpabc123 5y ago

<i>...the car operator can tell it to top up overnight when necessary.</i> The car operator may not always know when it's necessary --- assuming he is not psychic. He may just top up to be on the safe side.

gameswithgo 5y ago
* With lithium ion you don't want to sit at 100% all of the time, but it is fine to always keep it topped off to ~80% or so. Topping it off daily is good. * If you are someone who doesn't want to worry about not going to 100% all of the time the new iron based batteries (featured in base model 3 right now for instance) don't care, you can let those sit at 100%, and they are safer too. The downside is less total range range and/or more weight.
- jqpabc123 5y ago
  With lithium ion you don't want to sit at 100% all of the time ... Someone who drives infrequently (a senior for example) or has multiple cars could easily leave a car plugged in for days.
  - sliken 5y ago
    Sure, but Tesla recommends charging to 90% for daily use (except for LFP batteries), personally I charge to 85% to help increase battery life. It also helps the battery when it gets cold, the car will use power to help keep battery warm, which also helps increase battery life.
- Tagbert 5y ago
  GM in their Volt and Bolt holds back a percentage of the battery capacity so that at 100% of charge the battery pack is only charging to 85-90% and when it discharges to 0% the pack is actually not at zero. They do this to limit stress on the cells and to ensure longer service life for the battery pack.
fomine3 5y ago
How much possibility? Like once per a decade? Edge case could be ignored by patience at charging station or rent a car.