Here's The Right Way To Charge Your Tesla And Prolong Its Battery Life

Charge your LFP Tesla Model Y or Model 3 to 100% at least once a week for battery management system calibration. Limit your long range AWD Model Y or Model 3 to 90% unless you need the extra range for a longer drive. Pro tips on what to do during prolong inactivity eg. airport parking during holiday travel | by Tesla Tom of Ludicrous Feed in Sydney Australia July 2023
Here's The Right Way To Charge Your Tesla And Prolong Its Battery Life
References:
Tesla Manual Charging Instructions
www.tesla.com/ownersmanual/mo...
The Puzzling Reason Why Tesla Misleadingly Recommends Charging the LFP Batteries to 100%
www.autoevolution.com/news/th...
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00:00 Introduction
00:42 Telling the difference
01:03 LFP vs NMC/NCA chemistry
01:29 Why charge LFP to 100%
02:11 Why not charge NMC/NCA to 100%
02:43 Don't leave any EV plugged into 100%
03:10 Sentry Mode phantom drain real world experience
04:07 Prolonged inactivity tips
06:28 Battery care
06:52 Summary
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ABOUT LUDICROUS FEED
Ludicrous Feed is a Sydney-based KZbin channel that started in 2018 after Tom purchased his Tesla Model S. He wanted to show the reality of Australian daily life with his family and an electric vehicle. Tom provides straightforward candid insights into key issues around EV adoption such as vehicle range, charging infrastructure and road trip planning. The weekly live stream is an opportunity for industry guests to directly engage with audience members from the EV community. Tom also has a Tesla Powerwall 2 coupled with rooftop solar and has reviewed many other electric vehicles for the channel including brands such as Tesla, BYD, Polestar, Volvo, MG, Hyundai, Genesis, Kia and Cupra.
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[@LudicrousFeed]

Earn credits using this link and redeem for Tesla merchandise: www.tesla.com/en_AU/referral/thomas7208

[@cliffm8846]

Folks, if you like peace of mind about your battery (longevity & safety), for years to come, just charge your EV between 30% - 70% (and do 90% - 100% when going for a long Road Trip). (I own Tesla S & X, and I'm an Electrical Engineer) * High temperatures kill batteries. If you go on a holiday/vacation during the summer, leave your vehicle at a low SOC (state of charge). For example, at or below 30% SOC * Cycle within a narrow SOC range. For example: 40-60% rather than 10-80%. The cathode expands and contracts in a wider SOC range, which causes it to break apart. * On that note: The lower the narrower the SOC range, the better. That means charging frequently. * Avoid charging the vehicle above 75% SOC. Above 75% side reactions start occuring that cause degradation. This also reduces the volume expansion issues mentioned * Taking all variables into account, operating between 45-70% SOC, and storage at ~30% is ideal. * Occasional high SOC and wide SOC range are okay! For example, the occasional road trip. * With good thermal management hardware and battery management software, supercharging should have minimal negative effects on cycle life But even y'all will not follow those tips. The battery will not die tomorrow. it is just that there are some small (or big) consequences later on. Have a great day!

[@LudicrousFeed]

Thanks for this advice and I agree it’s largely applicable for NMC/NCA chemistry. Would be great for you to own an LFP vehicle for a couple of years and tailor your advice if needed/appropriate 👍

[@JJ.ANDERSEN.201]

perhaps the most straightforward explanation on Tesla batteries. Easily understandable and direct to the point, thank you!

[@LudicrousFeed]

Glad it was helpful!

[@tswej]

I have a 2020 Model s, I charge to 80% unless I'm taking a road trip to visit children about 200miles away. I mainly charge at home either mine or the children and although I have level 2 at home I rarely charge at a rate higher the 16kw. Currently at 80% I'm showing 297 miles or 478 km of range.

[@LudicrousFeed]

That’s a good practice for battery longevity 🏆

[@johnreese3762]

Very well done with very good advice! Love your Tesla!!

[@LudicrousFeed]

Thanks for watching

[@myintkyaw]

Very useful information. You explained everything. I really appreciate that.

[@LudicrousFeed]

Glad it made sense! 😃

[@lena19191]

Perfect ! Simple and straightforward explanation, thankyou Tom .

[@LudicrousFeed]

Very welcome

[@69Thylacine]

Hi Tom, love all your videos I was asked yesterday about battery degredation and if that degredation effects that battery contents, ie lithum, ion, potassium, cobalt etc when they have been recycled. In effect, once the item are recycled into their separate basic elements, do they have the same 'capacity' once turned into a battery? TIA :)

[@LudicrousFeed]

This video is worth watching: shows 95% efficiency when it comes to recycling/recovering the rare earth elements of traction batteries: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qWPbo5SoiryJiLMsi=fUmOhluxH7bCBG-r

[@RyanCowan]

Tom, this video is super helpful and really well explained ! - And perfect timing for us as we've been looking into parking at Melbourne Airport while we are away ! So thank you.

[@LudicrousFeed]

My pleasure Ryan! Have a great time while you’re away 😃

[@prj32]

Great work (again) Tom, probably the best and simplified definition I have viewed after spending several hours reviewing - looking at RWD uplift to LR. This topic does create a conundrum on the pure value prop (ignoring AWD, speed boost etc.) of LR variants with max charge, however would envisage most people wouldn’t leverage this range most weeks and the proposed battery hygiene is reasonable. I think Tesla could do a better job on simplifying this messaging (and maybe remind best practices via smart notifications) to customers in the UX. Thanks again Tom.

[@LudicrousFeed]

Pleasure, glad my explanation made sense 😁

[@robertm1459]

TT, thankyou for succinctly clarifying.......so many new EVers need this👍

[@LudicrousFeed]

Pleasure 👍

[@tjw1861]

Thankyou tom. You are a legend. That answers my question a few weeks back about leaving the car while on holidays. I read leaving it plugged in is vital and will probably set the limit to 85%. I would love to see a video on setting up charging schedules. I've had my car for 2 months and the App schedule charge still baffles me. I have solar and want it charging 9 to 4pm daily only. 4-8pm is the expensive time to charge. I do hear the next update to the App will have solar feed in preferences but that may be only if you have an expensive solar inverter or tesla battery..😊

[@LudicrousFeed]

Pleasure! Yes Tesla is apparently releasing an in-house excess solar charging feature. In the meantime there is the ChargeHQ app which is an excellent Aussie home-grown piece of software ❤️

[@tjw1861]

@@LudicrousFeed thankyou. I don't think my older inverter is smart tech or wifi though

[@LudicrousFeed]

Check the ChargeHQ approved inverter list on their website

[@GuirgisNessim]

​@@LudicrousFeedthanks Tom for the tip on ChargeHQ, it's a shame that they don't support Enphase, not sure if it's just a matter of time or if there's a technical limitation

[@nicoleibundgut534]

Haven't watched the video yet but i have been looking into the battery theorie. So now it is cold because its winter here. I am looking to charge my model s with the NCA Batterie to roughly 30-85% in Summer times i charge more to 5-10/70-80. Also i watch out the Battery is not to long on high charge when its hot outside. Cycle life is corelating with high charge and high temperature. Also Nasa found that when you charge lithium ion batterys mainly NCM to 3.92 V you have the best outcome.

[@TeslaStraya]

Awesome video TT! Very well explained!! I must say I like being able to charge to 100% rather than feeling like I was going to cause issues to my pack with my old Performance Model 3.

[@LudicrousFeed]

Hey mate! Yeah 100% agree with you there (pun intended) - nice to start some days with a totally full pack 😎 Enjoy your new Y!

[@TeslaStraya]

@@LudicrousFeed thanks mate! Loving it, there is sooooo much improvement from the 2019 models, it’s insane!

[@Pyroclasm27]

Hey mate as always you've covered a topic I couldn't find answers for anywhere else 😊. With the lfp battery how long can it sit at 100% before its bad for the battery?

[@LudicrousFeed]

In a perfect world I would unplug as soon as it hit 100% and calibrated. I wouldn’t want the battery to sit a second longer at a higher voltage than necessary. BUT … we live in the real world and I need to balance it with frugality and practicality. My Powershop super off peak rate finishes at 4am each weeknight - so I normally unplug at about 6:30am when I leave for work. I suppose I could wake up earlier to unplug but I enjoy my beauty sleep 😴

[@Pyroclasm27]

@@LudicrousFeed yeah that's the thing in theory charging to 100% once a week is easy. Picking a time when it finishes to drive it immediately is a different story. Just another question. How long does the calibration take?

[@LudicrousFeed]

Not long

[@ea3928]

Hey Tom, Love your content. Keep up the good work. A request video from me :) Like you, our household would soon have 2 Teslas. Is it possible for you to do a video on how best to use the Tesla app for sharing both cars in one household? In our case, we have two seperate Tesla accounts. I am sure there will be other users in the same boat as me and would find it beneficial. If you have got a video already, please point it at me. Many thanks.

[@LudicrousFeed]

It’s fairly straight forward - once you take delivery of your cars, you can add each other as an additional driver to your respective cars/apps and both of you will have full access. You can add up to 5 drivers per car from memory

[@johnlambert1744]

Another great informative video!! Well done! Just curious - if you can't plug your Tesla into a wall charger while you're away and you have sentry mode turned off (from 100% charge), approx how long will it last before it goes completely flat? Would it be weeks, months, etc.? I know it's probably a hard question to answer (how long is a piece of string??).

[@LudicrousFeed]

In the Tesla manual and also from personal experience when Tesla sentry mode is turned off, you lose approx 1% every 24h

[@olyalphy]

I’d recommend for NMC / NCA chemistry to only charge to 100% if you really have to, and shortly after reaching 100% (say half an hour) you should drive the car to reduce the state of charge. If charging overnight, using the schedule charge departure time feature will help, so the car isn’t sitting at 100% for too long.

[@LudicrousFeed]

Good advice

[@rennywillins982]

Great video. One question…. How did you change the name of your Frunk and Trunk?

[@LudicrousFeed]

Change language to British English

[@shawnrichards1139]

Hi. Just a further question on LFP charging. I know it's recommended to charge to 100% weekly. However I do low kms, ~100-120 km and I charge from 75% up to 100% at a public charger (apartment dweller) as my only weekly charge. Can I get by with a lower frequency of charging, eg every 2 weeks and charge from 50% to 100%? Is the weekly basis the important aspect or is it that every 3rd or 4th charge (perhaps for those driving high ks per week) should be to 100% so that calibration remains accurate?

[@LudicrousFeed]

In my opinion Tesla recommends charging to 100% for LFP mostly for BMS calibration

[@sbasuroy]

Good video. I think the dual motor highland has LFP now? Or am I wrong?

[@LudicrousFeed]

Thanks! Unless I’m mistaken, in Australia only the RWD Model 3 is equipped with LFP battery chemistry (April 2024)

[@KyleStuart-mw7rw]

Great Video. It’s also worth noting that Sentry mode will disable itself at 20%, so you will be unlikely to drain your battery completely. The battery loses about 1% per month when in idle without sentry, and without waking it to check via the app.

[@LudicrousFeed]

Thanks and good points. Key is not to wake the car up too much either with the Tesla app or other third party software if you want to prevent phantom drain

[@mayotheivendran9391]

Hey Tom. I’ve been driving the Tesla 3 in California and I got to say I’m a fan!!

[@LudicrousFeed]

Awesome! Enjoy!

[@miltont5173]

Hi Tom, when you spoke of the degradation of 7% for the 7 year old model S and 9% for the model 3, what did you use as your starting point as to the battery capacity when new. e.g did you use 70kw for the 70D or a lower number of usable kw’s?

[@LudicrousFeed]

I used the nominal battery capacities listed on EV Database for the respective vehicles

[@AlexBenavides84]

I have a 2023 M3 RWD, What percent should I be charging throughout the week when NOT charging that 100 % once a week ? Thanks !

[@LudicrousFeed]

This is the question isn’t it?! I personally only plug in approx twice a week. Since I’ve made this video, I now leave it at 100% limit

[@jeremiely5053]

hi Tom, whats the best apps/website to see all the charging station from melbourne to sydney? thanks

[@LudicrousFeed]

Plugshare is the go to website/app 👍

[@Lohbek]

Hey Tom, do you always keep them plugged in daily even when you don’t drive them or do you keep them plugged only for the days that require topping them up?

[@LudicrousFeed]

I only plug in if I need the range for the next day

[@RobMcGinley81]

Hi Tom, do you know what chemistry a 2021 39kw Hyundai Kona would be please?

[@LudicrousFeed]

LG NMC chemistry 🔋

[@RobMcGinley81]

@@LudicrousFeed Thanks Tom

[@MichaelAConnolly]

Have you ever done a poll of what wall chargers your viewers have at home for their Tesla or other EVs? It would be interesting to see the distribution of single/three phase and brands.

[@LudicrousFeed]

Yup that would be an interesting poll

[@snip3d]

I'm done 'driving' for the year (now on holidays) and I'm charging to 50% for my MYLR. I'd only charge an LFP to 100% up to once a week.

[@sjcir]

Hi Tom quick questions for LFP battery, for 100% charging/wk do you recommend home charger? or any charger is okay?

[@LudicrousFeed]

Most AC chargers will do the job. This is my current setup: Home EV Charging Setup Update | Tesla BYD Wallbox Pulsar Max Feb 2024 kzbin.info/www/bejne/ppbYhIFmqJydnck

[@LudicrousFeed]

The Ocular range from EVSE is also worth considering: BLUETOOTH CONTROLLED ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGER | Ocular LTE Plus Review kzbin.info/www/bejne/g4C3pqpmds6rd7c

[@sjcir]

Thank you Tom for a kind and fast reply, I'm currently living at an apartment without any ac charging port. So my only option is dc chargers. Thanks anyway

[@jamiehiggs5389]

You mentioned that you previous M3P had a much bigger battery SOH degradation, do you pout that down to how you charged the vehicle or that just how they are?

[@LudicrousFeed]

My working theory is that the performance motors may have contributed to the degradation

[@CharlesLeoYNWA]

Hey Tom! Very useful information as always. How soon should the batteries be put to charge in order to optimise the health of the battery? Would we treat a car's battery like a mobile phone battery where it is always advisable not to let it discharge below 40% before plugging in?

[@LudicrousFeed]

Thanks! Our current practice with the LFP Y is to plug in once it reaches below 50% and then let it charge to 100%

[@CharlesLeoYNWA]

@@LudicrousFeed The BYD Seal is running on NMC batteries, would you do the same with your BYD? Or should that be managed differently?

[@CharlesLeoYNWA]

@@LudicrousFeed Thank you for your reply by the way, it is much appreciated! :)

[@LudicrousFeed]

@@CharlesLeoYNWA The Seal runs on the Blade battery which is also LFP. Same rules apply

[@CharlesLeoYNWA]

@@LudicrousFeed Cheers Tom!

[@Proximian]

The Tesla manual does not state to charge to 100% once a week. It simply states to not let the battery drop below 20% for a long time and to use the Tesla app recommendation for the top charging percentage. In the case of an LFP, the Tesla app recommends 100%. My question is, can you reference where Tesla themselves state to charge to 100% at least once a week? Thanks.

[@LudicrousFeed]

So I referenced an older version of the manual (early 2023) and it seems they have modified it since

[@Spades080]

One thing I've been really curious about is cell balancing. It seems that Tesla performing "calibration" also involves cell balancing. What are your thoughts on this? Theoretically cell balancing may increase range.

[@LudicrousFeed]

Probably doesn’t increase range per se but calibrates it closer to its actual range. I had this experience when I first used Scan My Tesla with our ex-2019 Performance Model 3 pre and post calibration: SCAN MY TESLA MODEL 3 PERFORMANCE Battery Degradation after 3.5 years kzbin.info/www/bejne/gIbRlJiehJKmaqM

[@MrMcgooOG]

This guy reminds me of the Helmsman from Star Trek.. you have command Hikaru Sulu.

[@LudicrousFeed]

May the Great Bird of the galaxy bless your planet

[@MrGodfather00001]

Hi Tom, how much do you let the battery go down to in percentage before you plug in the second 100 percent charge ? What is the recommended difference between each charge cycle in percentage for better battery life ?

[@LudicrousFeed]

Tesla doesn’t give guidance on the recommended discharge % but for us personally, we charge our Model Y when it drops below 50% which is approximately twice a week. Interestingly, the BYD manual (I also own a Seal effective Jan 2024) states for the Seal: “ … fully charge it from a low battery level (

[@MrGodfather00001]

@@LudicrousFeed thanks Tom I have been watching your other videos on BYD seal as well. I just found out last night that you can only charge any BYD to a max of 7 kWh on AC charging whereas Model 3 can take advantage of charging stations up to Maximum of 11Kwh.

[@LudicrousFeed]

Yes which may seem disadvantageous at first but if you charge 8h each night x 7kW then that’s 56 kWh which is 68% of your battery. Of course if you have a limited off-peak time of use tariff for your electricity provider eg 0000-0400 then it would be better to have a faster charge rate to take advantage of those cheaper hours

[@elianagomez24]

Hello. Thank you for making this video. My Tesla app is saying “To maintain battery health, keep the charge limit at 100% and charge fully once per week.” Does that mean always keep the charging limit at 100% or only once a week. I’m confused haha. New ev owner here

[@LudicrousFeed]

I think you’re not alone because as you’ll see from the comments and from online forums, some charge all the time to 100% while some may charge only once per week. Either way LFP has a very stable voltage at a high state of charge so you should be ok leaving it at 100% and charging it whenever you need to for your personal requirements

[@lawrencecoleman6998]

The issue of you can call it that is when we put our Mod Y to sleep (no sentry mode or climate control) sometimes the screen needs a reboot. Even when you wake it up on the app. No probs really except if your in a hurry and rebooting(holding both scroll wheels down for 2-3secs) and waiting for the ‘T’ sign to go can take a while. So I usually have sentry on all the time, we are on home solar so power doesn’t really matter.

[@lawrencecoleman6998]

I meant pressing both scroll wheels in😊

[@LudicrousFeed]

I've had that happen a couple of times to me and yes it can be frustrating when you need to dash off! 😅

[@noleftturns]

I wish you could program when Sentry Mode is on and off - like your home thermostat and temperature during the day. I'd turn it on at night and off during the day.

[@LudicrousFeed]

Perhaps an idea for a future software update 🤔

[@pfeifferarmin]

As I can't plug in at home, I charge my Model 3 LR to 85% at a SuC once a week for daily commuting. I'm curious to see how it affects battery life in the long run, but I am confident that it's doable this way.

[@LudicrousFeed]

That sounds like a reasonable charging regime to me given you don’t have access to charging at home

[@wongwwy]

Thanks for the info.I am getting a new 2023 model 3 RWD. I think the problem I have is the documentation only say "at least once a week 100%" but did not mention can you charge 100% multiple times a week, or how many time of 100% is starting to be detrimental to the battery. I think it should be common sense for them to mention both a minimum AND a maximum, or if it is not going to be bad, you can charge how many 100% you want. I feel they do need to mention that (if they haven't already do) Because there are contradicting info on the web. Some say it won't be detrimental even if you charge to 100% 7 days a week, or the effect is negligible; while some say it is not a good idea to keep even LFP charge to 100% always, like you suggested. I hope Tesla can clarify.

[@LudicrousFeed]

Agreed, Tesla are not super clear on their charging prescription. Probably because neither they nor anyone else really knows the ideal habit for longevity yet

[@robertvanzant2653]

Hi Tom , I’ve a LR I set the daily limit to 80% , to be honest I don’t do many km a week so I don’t daily charge , 80% dose me for 7 days and I let it run down to 35% before I charge . Is this ok ? Am I hurting the battery?

[@LudicrousFeed]

Cycling the battery between 35-80% seems like a reasonable thing to do for the AWD vehicles

[@markeaton6734]

Usually 60% for my LR y/3 and only charge to 100% the night before a long trip. Generally only use about 20% max in a normal day

[@LudicrousFeed]

Good regime 👍

[@fyeofyeo402]

I am lucky to have charging at home. Does constant supercharging degrade battery, since more power is pump into the battery at shorter time.

[@LudicrousFeed]

The consensus is that AC charging is better than DC charging for longevity

[@philjklew]

I have a Model Y RWD with LFP battery , and I understand that Telsa's recommendation to charge to 100% is for charge state recalibration. However, I am a low mileage driver, so I may not need to charge the car for 2 weeks or more. If I charge to 100% every 2 weeks, wouldn't that theoretically lead to less battery degradation than charging it to 100% weekly or more frequently? I thought battery degradation was also related to number of charge cycles?

[@LudicrousFeed]

Ultimately the recommendation from Tesla for LFP chemistry is a compromise between calibrating the BMS for state of charge accuracy against protecting it against unnecessary degradation from prolonged charging to 100% hence why the arbitrary and arguably vague recommendation to charge to 100% “at least once a week”. Logically your hypothesis of charging to 100% only every other week to improve battery health makes sense with of course the trade off being a potentially inaccurate state of charge reading. My understanding of a battery cycle is the total equivalent charge/discharge from 100% to 0% to 100% not necessarily from the one session. Hence it doesn’t matter how many times you plug in, rather it’s how many kms you drive that matters.

[@wakeywarrior]

Tessie data shows on average, an LFP battery degrades by 2% after 45,000 miles, and most will be charged to 100% because that’s what Tesla instruct owners to do.

[@LudicrousFeed]

LFP showing amazing longevity 💪 Would be great to see how many times these owners charged fully to 100% each week

[@wakeywarrior]

@@LudicrousFeed yep suspect most do as Tesla tell you to. I do as do the people I see on the Tesla Owners club etc. These batteries are amazing. However a new one just developed that Tesla may be moving to- 0 degradation at 1000 charging cycles (so over 200,000 miles). That would be amazing if they start putting those in.

[@KevinWuPlus]

Is all ModelY RWD sold in Uk using LFP?

[@LudicrousFeed]

Yes I believe so given they originate from GF Shanghai

[@Mistyfire]

What do you recommend on charging if I only need to charge once every 2-3 weeks because of low mileage? Should I ever charge to 100%?

[@LudicrousFeed]

It's still good practice to charge to 100% regularly to calibrate your BMS for LFP battery

[@Mistyfire]

@@LudicrousFeed thanks

[@breezeezz]

hi i have a question, i recently brought a tesla and i use daily 10% of the lfp battery, should i charge the car everyday around 80% and 1 time a week at 100% or just charge 1 time per week at 100%, without charging it daily? which is better to preserve the battery better?

[@LudicrousFeed]

This is the question isn’t it? Tesla tells us it’s ok to charge to 100% regularly

[@breezeezz]

@@LudicrousFeed i meant if its ok to not charge the whole week and only charge once

[@LudicrousFeed]

That’s what I’ve been doing for our Model Y LFP ie. Charging to 100% only once weekly

[@cleefy92]

I usually leave my LFP RWD Y unplugged for a couple of days a week, but there are weeks where the chances of needing more range are higher (no real set travel schedule) and in those weeks I leave it plugged in and set to 100% limit. But generally, I'm getting down to 10-20% remaining (from multiple short trips over 2-3 days) at least twice a week. At the end of the day, I don't want to have to constantly think about this kind of stuff, because it makes the beauty of owning an EV turn into a chore, so whatever will be will be when it comes to degradation for me, I think.

[@LudicrousFeed]

If your travel plans are potentially haphazard, you could maybe set a lower % most of the time and charge every day ... then create a habit where on the same day each week, you slide up to 100%

[@cleefy92]

@@LudicrousFeed I hadn't considered that! Might have to give it a try. I'm using Charge HQ so I can automate it too. I figured keeping a higher state of charge off my 7kw home charger was better for my battery than fast charging when my schedule suddenly throws a longer drive into the mix.

[@toddbenfield6546]

I only drive 50/100 miles a week…can I charge to a 100% every 2 wks, or get down to 20% and charge🤔2023 RWD August built. Just would like to plug in when needed. Thanks!

[@crisgrant3745]

TT - grat vid - but i have to add that I have an LFP Model 3 (2023) which I left off (not plugged in) at home (apartment complex) for over 3 weeks and it only drained a total of 3% (from 100% to 97%). Why becasue i followed the recommended proceedure re how to shut it down (properly) - ie turned power off (see service modes). You also need to use the Tesla Key Card BTW....so no need to panic if you go OS for an extended period folks! Have fun out there, be safe C

[@LudicrousFeed]

Great tip if you want to conserve battery and reduce phantom drain! Useful of course only if you don’t need sentry mode / trust the security of where you’re parking 👍

[@dazbagsmason]

Hi Tom If you have a LFP battery Tesla recommends keeping your battery at 100% and plugged in when not in use

[@tjw1861]

That's not what I've read on all the forum's. Best to keep it plugged in yes but only charge to max 90%. Where did tesla say it must stay at 100%?

[@LudicrousFeed]

Hmm I must say, this doesn’t make sense to me and requires further clarification. Why would I want to keep my battery at a higher voltage unnecessarily? It would be detrimental to the long term health of the battery.

[@dazbagsmason]

This is out of the manual pages 161 . NOTE: The charge port door automatically closes within approximately 10 seconds of removing the connector from the charge port. CAUTION: Tesla strongly recommends leaving Model Y plugged in when not in use. This maintains the Battery at the optimum level of charge.

[@LudicrousFeed]

Definitely leave it plugged in when not in use if possible eg at airport parking. Don’t let it fully discharge - Tesla are quite clear on this

[@slyktech1860]

How bad is it for an Model Y LR AWD to sit at 15% for a couple hrs? I have read that you should keep the charge above 20%.

[@LudicrousFeed]

In my experience, it should be ok

[@user-gr3yx9qh8p]

Here's a question for you: If the car goes prolonged periods without being charged to 100%, will charging it to 100% immediately recalibrate the battery management system and range prediction returns to normal? Or does range prediction return to normal after multiple charges to 100%? If so, how many? Or is the car forever unable to reliably predict range if the recommended charging regime is not followed? Thanks in advance

[@LudicrousFeed]

My understanding is that it should mostly recalibrate after one full charge

[@dwnrange7812]

Or does it develop long term 'memory,' like the old cadmium batteries?

[@nicoleibundgut534]

@@dwnrange7812 There is no memory effect on lithium batterys. Also Charging one time to 100% is enough to recalibrate the battery. You can watch the imbalance over an OBD device and if you fall out over 0.1V when the battery sits for longer then 2 min with above 20% charge you should propably recharge to 100% soon.

[@pandasleepingzzz]

I charge once a week to 100%. But I charge it every day regardless of use back to 70%. Should I not keep doing small recharges? And let it run down to a certain number before plugging it back in?

[@LudicrousFeed]

The Tesla manual doesn't recommend letting your car discharge too low due to potential damage I think your current regime is good

[@oli668]

Am I right that by discouraging charging an LFP battery to 100% on most days, you are recommending something contrary to Tesla’s recommendations?

[@LudicrousFeed]

I’m aiming to clarify rather than act in contrary to Tesla’s recommendations to balance BMS calibration against unnecessary potential long term effects of keeping the battery at a high state of charge. Furthermore there are some owners who cannot practically charge most days due to lack of off-street parking/charging

[@mrzipdisk]

Ok, but for LFPs is it ok to run down uner 20% everday? I got a long commute, like 180 miles. Not forever but just started a new job and havent moved yet.😊

[@LudicrousFeed]

Yes by my understanding that is acceptable practice given LFP has stable voltage throughout its charge cycle

[@mrzipdisk]

@@LudicrousFeedThanks! I'm a noob so this info is very helpful!

[@danieltjoadri8247]

Just wondering if put PPF on yor Tesla? I was told that that Tesla's paint is not thick so most people put PPF to prevent stone chips.

[@tjw1861]

I drove my new tesla from Brisbane to Canberra. And got a bad stone chip on bonnet and small scratch. It's very soft paint so I've put PPF on whole front now.

[@LudicrousFeed]

I was lucky enough to receive comp ceramic coating from Solartint Brookvale: 2023 Black Tesla Model 3 Ceramic Coating Explained and Application kzbin.info/www/bejne/pHOmma2fpb2jb7M As for PPF, I’ve driven relatively a lot of miles over the years in a Tesla and luckily haven’t received too much damage from stone chips … or at least it’s within my tolerance 😁 Possibly PPF over the bonnet and wing mirrors may be of good value. You need to make a cost/benefit assessment of PPF vs paint repair

[@Don-IV]

PPF used to be for heaps expensive cars... until Tesla owners started getting it, and now it's exploded 🤯 Like you wouldn't pay $1,000 insurance if you're car was only worth $5,000... but some people might. Personally, I'm in a new area, construction everywhere, highway driving at 100km around trucks... yep, I'm def getting it 😎 Ppl think it's overkill paying about 10% of the value of the car to have it completely portected, but as i mentioned before, it's subjective. My other car has the proof of all the damage caused 😔 What I would say though, is that if you plan and trading in when a new model comes around, getting the whole car wrap might not be worth it. Esp if you have to remove it for Tesla, or they don't value it in the trade in price 😬 Private sale I assume would be ok, but obvs a lot more effort involed.

[@sundflux]

I've driven 69000+ km with my -22 RWD Model 3 with LFP battery and charged to 100% (almost) daily. Battery degration is still less than 4% according to Tessie.

[@LudicrousFeed]

Nice 👍

[@MathewParet]

Mine is LFP and I charge to 100% every day. Has anyone had experience with battery degradation due to charging LFP battery to 100% every day? It would be nice if Tesla scheduler can be configured to charge to 100% on certain days and to a lower amount on other days.

[@LudicrousFeed]

That would be handy

[@pauld3327]

Can you set a charging limit with LFP batteries ?

[@LudicrousFeed]

Yes - in car and in-app

[@pauld3327]

@@LudicrousFeed Thank you. I thought you could only set a charging limit for NMC batteries.

[@danhoyles]

How long is too long? To leave at 100 SOC. 4 hours? 4 days? 2 weeks?

[@LudicrousFeed]

I personally don't like to leave it plugged in longer than 24h ... if I absolutely must leave it for longer then I'll drag the Max charge to below 100%

[@jandemckay]

Sorry I’m new to all this. I hear everyone saying charge to 100% say once a week to improve the accuracy of the BMS, but no-one tells me how inaccurate will it be if I don’t. As I usually only consume 5-20% each day what does it matter if the SOC is inaccurate by a small % (if that is indeed the case)? Also it costs more to charge from 80-100%, so can anyone tell me what the consequences will be if I only charge my LFP battery to 60% every day or two and never charge to 100% except when I know I have a long trip ahead. I reckon the battery life will be so much longer under this scenario? Thanks for your advice.

[@LudicrousFeed]

In my earlier video with our ex-2019 Performance Model 3, I showed that an uncalibrated battery can cause potential inaccuracies of 2% or more in NCA. For an uncalibrated LFP battery, it’s likely to be more inaccurate given there is less voltage variability for this type of chemistry. Hence for this reason, if you have a LFP battery, I would still recommend charging to 100% once a week if possible. It doesn’t cost more at any part of the charge curve - each incremental % will cost you the same amount of money whether it’s AC or DC charging. You are paying $ per unit of energy, not per unit of time.

[@jandemckay]

@@LudicrousFeed thanks for this. Ok, so if I consistently charge to 60%, eventually it might only be charging to 58%? Not a problem? I reckon Tesla only recommends charging to 100% once a week as a compromise between an inaccurate SOC and battery longevity (as all batteries degrade over time if charged to 100%).

[@LudicrousFeed]

Yes that’s probably the case with the compromise but the OCD personality within me wants my BMS to be as accurate as possible 😅

[@jandemckay]

I’ve also found that it not only takes longer but does cost more to charge at the top end of the range. That is to charge 90-100% costs more than 50-60%. I have consistent evidence of this as I record both the time and cost each day.

[@jandemckay]

I’ve also found that it not only takes longer but does cost more to charge at the top end of the range. That is to charge 90-100% costs more than 50-60%. I have consistent evidence of this as I record both the time and cost each day.

[@walterwhite1]

I just bought a 2023 model Y long range here in United States. What battery do I have?

[@LudicrousFeed]

LR is NCA chemistry

[@walterwhite1]

@@LudicrousFeed what does that stand for?

[@LudicrousFeed]

@@walterwhite1 Nickel Cobalt Aluminium. It could also be NMC which stands for Nickel Manganese Cobalt

[@walterwhite1]

@@LudicrousFeed and that one we are recommended to charge to 80% , correct?

[@KeaneFFXIV]

Is it recommended to always leave it plugged in even if the car isn't charging?

[@LudicrousFeed]

Good question. Both our cars are driven every day hence my explanation for what we do. If I can forsee that I won't be driving it for a few days then I would set it at a lower max charge rate eg. 80/90% and leave it plugged in. I just don't like the thought of leaving any form of Lithium ion battery regardless of chemistry plugged in for a long time at 100%

[@ozone7]

@@LudicrousFeed I can't find any details on how the car manages the charging when the car is left alone for a long time... Will the car make sure the battery always stays on the selected state of charge? Or will the charge drop a few percent and than be topped up again, or maybe fall to 20% before it gets charged again?

[@LudicrousFeed]

@@ozone7 From past experience, the car will allow the charge to drop a few % then top up again

[@28lay]

Tesla website recommends leave the charging limit leave it as 100% even for daily use, is that make sense?

[@LudicrousFeed]

Tesla recommends this for accurate BMS calibration

[@joebloggs6131]

It's better to buy the range that exceeds your needs and charge it between the 20% to 90% range. You can do this on rapid charging with no notable side effects later on. once you notice battery degradation, charge it to the higher % marker to make up for the loss, and once you're at 100% usable but still doesn't fulfil the range necessary, might consider a full replacement.

[@LudicrousFeed]

But I suppose the flip side is if you have a bigger battery than what’s necessary for most of your needs then you’re carrying around extra weight which of course affects your efficiency and thus your overall running costs 🤔

[@joebloggs6131]

@@LudicrousFeed Some sensible driving behaviour can offset the costs of being heavier, such as carrying just enough speed at the top of a crest that you can let the vehicle roll on it's own down the other side with no brakes. This is very good for energy efficiency and a smart driver can drive a heavier vehicle with no downside.

[@raleedy]

Nothing personal, but what are your credentials for offering this advice?

[@LudicrousFeed]

Good question. As per my disclaimer on my website - the content I provide is for "entertainment purposes. While we strive to create accurate and factual content, all advice and recommendations should be carefully considered and verified by users. We do not assume any responsibility for the purchasing decisions made by viewers, the replication of behaviour showcased in our videos including but not limited to driving, charging and configuring a vehicle or any issues arising from the products featured, including but not limited to potential warranty disputes with Tesla or other car manufacturers. Viewers are encouraged to conduct their own research, consult professionals, and exercise caution when making any decisions based on the information presented in our videos. The opinions expressed by the creators and contributors of this channel are their own and may not necessarily reflect the views of any car manufacturers or affiliated companies." In other words - it's my own opinion based on experience and research but I do recommend seeking your own advice before proceeding. Thanks for watching

[@Don-IV]

#lawyered

[@SirDragonClaw]

Are you sure LFP batteries don't like being at 100% for a prolonged time? The only studies I have read on it seemed to show that it had no long term effect on battery longevity.

[@LudicrousFeed]

Logic dictates that LFP batteries are likely to be less susceptible to long term degradation due to lesser voltage variability but they will still sit at a higher voltage nonetheless at 100% compared to a lower SoC no? How long term are these studies? LFPs haven’t been around as long as NMC/NCA and I’m not keen to take that risk by keeping my car at 100% for prolonged periods

[@SirDragonClaw]

@@LudicrousFeed We have had LFP batteries for about 20 years now in general (though not in cars) and from what I recall the study showed that at a 30%, 60%, and 100% state of charge at a constant 55 degrees Celsius (they were doing accelerated testing) they got something like 2.1%, 2.3% and 2.6% loss of total capacity over the course of 12 months at that 55 degree temp. But that said there are maybe other reasons you don't want your battery sitting at 100% even if its LFP.

[@LudicrousFeed]

LFP really are quite amazing tech given their relatively smaller voltage range 👍

[@sgsuper1150]

The Tesla bms balance is during driving. So long as you dont drive below 30% no need to fully charge.

[@LudicrousFeed]

Best practice is to regular “shallow” cycles with occasional “deeper” cycles

[@Ken.Howard]

Am considering buying an EV soon, I want a Tesla but don't like the plainness of it nor not having a blinker arm or dash. Also, does the new LFP batteries mean they are less likely to catch on fire. Seeing so many videos of EV's and other devices catching on fire. As a former NSW Police officer with time in the Highway Patrol, went to my more than fair share of petrol fires and explosions in car accidents.

[@LudicrousFeed]

The general consensus is that LFP batteries have a relatively better fire safety profile compared to other Li-ion chemistries (ie. NMC/NCA). Maybe consider purchasing a used late model Tesla with blinker stalks?

[@NaughtyGoatFarm]

Wow century mode really sucks the juice. Surprised it uses that much power.

[@LudicrousFeed]

Yeah it’s a hungry beast

[@dwnrange7812]

Have LFP batteries been around long enough in any mass market EVs to demonstrate what realistic long term degradation looks like?

[@LudicrousFeed]

The testing has been done in the lab but as for real world testing …

[@matthewz7343]

So if you leave your car for 2 to 3 weeks at your secure apartment building, you’ll have no problem without sentry mode leaving it starting at 80% (model 3 long range)

[@LudicrousFeed]

Yup that’d be fine I left our Model Y at the airport carpark for 2 weeks and it lost 2% without sentry mode

[@leonkernan]

In Australia you have to charge it upside down so the electrons don’t fall out

[@LudicrousFeed]

😆 I thought electrons in Australia didn’t exist? They’re all paid actors?

[@zubinix]

I do 85% for my Model Y Performance.

[@LudicrousFeed]

👍

[@austinpowers1999]

Yes, it’s a lease so I ain’t in no ways worried.

[@LudicrousFeed]

Fair call. More a concern for people who intend to keep their Tesla for a long time

[@guringai]

100% once a week. ~300ks driving. Model Y LFP

[@LudicrousFeed]

You’re right in the sweet spot 🙌😃

[@cliffm8846]

DO NOT KEEP ON PLUGGING IT IN! TESLA will tell you this and that, as they want your business again after some years. The perfect way is to keep you BATTERY CHARGE BETWEEN 30% - 70% and charge it to 90% - 100% when you’re going for a long Road Trip, period. (I own Tesla S & X, and I’m an Electrical Engineer)

[@LudicrousFeed]

Is this advice for NMC/NCA or LFP?

[@cliffm8846]

@@LudicrousFeed Both!

[@LudicrousFeed]

Despite knowing that there’s less voltage instability/variability for LFP batteries throughout the charge curve particularly towards 100%? 🤔 Probably makes sense to me not to charge LFP daily to 100% … but is a weekly top up for BMS calibration an adequate enough compromise? Or should we be doing it even less often? Suggestions for frequency … eg monthly? 🤷

[@cliffm8846]

@@LudicrousFeed I do "once a month* drive them until 10% then charged it to 100% (then let them sit for some hours, to let the computer do it's job). After that, I went back again to 30% - 70%, and their batteries were both behaving like new.

[@LudicrousFeed]

I agree that works well for S/X NMC/NCA 👍

[@marioescalona1640]

There is a lot of different opinions and disinformation out there. After reading some studies on batteries from lab tests. Depending on how much you drive daily charge to 50-80% (up to 70% ideally) and if possible and charge back every one or 2 days, the lower dept of discharge (DOD) the better (max to min) , and the lower the cell voltage the longer they age (called calendar aging) however the DOD is more influential so try not to go below 20% frequently (30% ideally).

[@SS-yw7vo]

Thumbnail: Contemplative Tom

[@LudicrousFeed]

🤔

[@thaidang420]

Charge my LFP to 100 once every fortnight haha

[@LudicrousFeed]

Why not once a week?

[@thaidang420]

@LudicrousFeed tbh i forget and pure laziness lol

[@HelloWorld-hb7yt]

your statement are what you think, not what tesla recommends LFP battery.

[@LudicrousFeed]

Yes my opinion only

[@tyronemcgillick]

I've been charging to 100% everyday with LFP.

[@phoozle]

Same but have been worried about doing so

[@tjw1861]

Probably better to cut back on that. No battery should be kept at 100% too long

[@LudicrousFeed]

Unless you genuinely need that much range each day, even cutting this routine by half ie. Only charging to 100% on alternate days would improve your long term battery health. Better still consider how much range you actually need and only charge to 100% not much more than once a week if you can help it.

[@TheMelbournelad]

@@LudicrousFeedgot data for LFPs where say charge to 90 or 95% everyday compared to 100%.

[@TechnoMonkeyFarm]

@@TheMelbourneladThere’s a video from a channel called cleanerwatt where he goes into the data. LFP batteries are showing faster initial battery degradation but will no doubt outlive NMC/NCA due to the chemistry. LFP degradation would probably match NMC/NCA if they were charged the same.

[@roberts.wilson1848]

Sounds like LFP is worse tech. Needing to be charged once a week is a no-no. WHat if you leave on a month long vacation? And leave the car at the airport parking. Nah, LFP is a downgrade, it sucks needing extra pampering. With the previous tech was ok, because you don't fricking need 100% all the time anyway.

[@LudicrousFeed]

The recommendation to charge to 100% is mostly for BMS calibration to ensure accurate state of charge readings