Managing battery health and performance

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 40-60%. 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 energy. 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.

Battery in cold temperatures

Your car's battery can be negatively affected by cold temperatures. When the car has a cold battery, a snowflake appears next to the battery percentage. This indicates that the battery’s charge capacity, performance and range are reduced compared to normal conditions. When the battery warms up, for example during preconditioning of the car or when driving, the snowflake disappears from the driver display.

Cold temperatures may lower your car's battery levels more quickly than you are used to, even when parked. Plan ahead when leaving your car for any length of time. When there is a risk of cold weather conditions, keep in mind how this could affect the car's batteries. Always take into consideration your distance to a charging point.

It is recommended that you check your car's battery level regularly during periods of low temperature and use battery preconditioning or a climate timer. Charge your car when parking for longer than 24 hours in extremely cold temperatures, such as below -30 °C (-22 °F).

Note

Sounds

In certain weather conditions, you may hear sounds from the car's power system while driving or charging. This can be due to the car regulating the temperature of its electronics.

Tip

Activating eco climate allows your car to make extra adjustments to increase your range.

If you feel like this makes the passenger compartment a bit too cold, you can use seat heating and steering wheel heating to keep warm, as these use less energy.