Managing battery health and performance

Updated 10/28/2024

There are user practices that can help maintain the traction battery's condition and performance over time. Some scenarios can lead to battery damage and should always be avoided.

Low battery level and flat battery

Important

The traction battery can sustain severe damage if it is not charged after the battery level reaches 0%. The car draws a small amount of power when parked. Therefore, leaving the car with a low battery level without charging can lead to a flat battery and battery damage. If the battery level is below 20% when parked, it is recommended that the car is connected for charging as soon as possible.

If the battery level reaches 0%, the battery is considered flat or empty. The car then needs to be charged as soon as possible to reduce the risk of battery damage.

The smaller 12 V battery is also at risk of going flat if the traction battery can't supply it with power. If both batteries have gone flat, the car will have no power at all and no ability to initiate charging.

High state of charge

Important

The traction battery can sustain damage if the car's battery level is kept very high for a long period of time.

For regular charging, battery wear can be reduced by selecting a target battery level lower than 100%. Only charge to 100% if the full range is needed for your next trip.

If you are leaving the car plugged in for charging without any immediate plans to drive it, select the target battery level recommended in the car's charging view.

Charging habits

AC charging is the recommended charging mode for everyday charging. This helps maintain the condition of the battery over time. DC charging causes more wear.

Long-term parking

When leaving your car parked for longer than one month, the recommended battery level is 25-50%. Use or charge the car to reach the recommended level.

If you are leaving the car parked for longer than three months, it's recommended to keep it plugged in but set a battery charging limit of 50%. This is for better battery health.

Regularly check the battery level and that charging is working.

Tip

There is a separate section in this manual with more recommendations for long-term parking.

Parking in hot weather

Important

Avoid exposing the car to extreme temperatures. Avoid leaving the car parked for longer than 24 hours if the temperature is at risk of reaching 55 °C (131 °F).

During warmer periods of time, you're recommended to plug in the car during parking. High temperatures cause battery damage, especially when the car is exposed to hot weather for prolonged periods. The car can actively cool the battery while it's parked, but that uses power. When you're returning to your parked car, the battery level could be noticeably lower than before. If the car is plugged in for charging, it can cool the battery without lowering the battery level and risking a flat battery.

In hot temperatures, it is recommended that you park in a shaded spot. Strong sunlight combined with high temperatures can lead to very high battery temperatures and excessive cooling needs.

Parking in cold weather

When the battery is cold, the car temporarily reduces battery performance until it's warmed up. Driving the car in a state of reduced performance doesn't harm the battery.

To avoid temporarily reduced performance from a cold battery, connect the car for charging and activate the car's preconditioning ahead of your trip. The car can then heat the battery without affecting performance and available range.

In temperatures below -30 °C (-22 °F), avoid leaving the car parked without charging for longer than 24 hours.