You're charging your EV wrong and this is how you should actually do it to save its performance

You might be charging your EV all wrong and it might be quietly killing its performance.

Power can fade and range can become unpredictable, all because of how and when you plug in.

Most drivers don’t realize that EV batteries don’t like being treated like gas tanks.

And that single misunderstanding could be the reason your car feels slower than the day you bought it.

DISCOVER SBX CARS – The global premium auction platform powered by Supercar Blondie

The EV charging habits that are ruining performance

It sounds simple – plug in, fill up, drive off. 

But that mindset is exactly what drains performance over time. 

EV batteries are happiest in their middle zone. 

Sit too long at 100 percent and internal chemistry starts to strain. 

That’s when the system steps in, cutting regen and limiting power to keep the pack alive.

Drop too low and it does the same. 

Anyone who’s noticed their car feeling oddly lazy when nearly empty? 

That’s no coincidence – it’s protection mode.

Then there’s the heat. 

Park fully charged in the sun, skip preconditioning, or stack fast-charge sessions back-to-back and you’re slowly cooking the battery from the inside. 

It doesn’t fail overnight, but it shows in other ways – the throttle response softens, range estimates wobble, and efficiency dips.

The culprit isn’t the charger or the software. 

It’s the routine. 

Every time you treat that battery like a gas tank, you’re wearing down the very thing that makes your EV feel electric.

How to charge your EV the right way

The fix isn’t technical – it’s habit.

Start by keeping your charge level between 20 and 80 percent most days.

That middle range is where the chemistry stays calm, power stays punchy, and regen feels natural. 

Set a daily limit in your app, so it only charges to 80 percent.

You only need to nudge it higher before a long trip.

At home, take it slow. 

Level 1 or 2 charging is gentler on the battery, and that patience pays off. 

Save the rapid DC sessions for road trips or crazy weeks.

And if you really want your EV to age gracefully, manage the heat. 

Park in shade, use a garage when you can, and precondition while plugged in so the car pulls power from the wall, not the pack. 

Over time, those small, steady habits add up, preserving range, keeping performance crisp, and stopping degradation before it starts.

So remember – your EV’s performance isn’t fading with age, it’s reacting to how you treat it. 

DISCOVER SBX CARS: The global premium car auction platform powered by Supercar Blondie