“Top EV Charging Mistakes to Avoid (A Simple Guide From Tim Our Grid-Labs EV Guru)

Expert advice from Gridlabs on smarter driving, healthy charging, and choosing the right equipment

At Gridlabs, we often get asked: “How do I take care of my EV battery so it lasts?” And it’s a smart question—because a well-maintained battery doesn’t just give you better range and fewer headaches, it protects the long-term value of your vehicle.

There’s no magic switch, but there are clear, proven habits that protect your battery from avoidable wear. These come from both battery chemistry science and years of hands-on EV experience in the UK climate.

Let’s walk through what we recommend to EV owners every day—plus, we’ll cover the common charging problems we’ve seen in the field, and why investing in a high-quality home charger from brands like EV King makes all the difference.

Battery Habits That Really Make a Difference

Keep Charging Between 20% and 80%.

If there’s one habit every EV owner should master, it’s this: avoid the extremes. Charging your battery to 100% every day or letting it drain to nearly empty accelerates wear, especially in lithium-ion chemistries like NMC or LFP.

From a technical angle, keeping your battery voltage near its upper or lower limits stresses the cell structure, causes heat build-up, and triggers chemical degradation like lithium plating or SEI layer growth.

From a practical standpoint, it’s easy to manage. Most EVs—from Tesla to BMW to Hyundai—let you set a “charge limit” in the app. Unless you're about to head on a road trip, set it to 80% and plug in when you drop below 20–30%. I personally keep mine between 30% and 85%, and I’ve seen very stable battery health over four years.

Use Fast Charging Sparingly

DC fast chargers are great for road trips, but they come with a cost. High charging rates introduce excess heat and current stress—especially in cold weather—and that leads to long-term battery degradation. In hot temperatures fast charging may cause thermal runaway which is another thing owners must avoid.

If you're using your EV for commuting or local errands, stick to a Level 2 (AC) home charger for daily use. It’s slower, yes, but far gentler on your cells. In my own case, I only use rapid charging when I’m covering over 150 miles in a single day.

Protect Against Temperature Extremes

Batteries hate heat—and they aren’t fond of the cold either. Parking your car in direct summer sun or charging immediately after a long motorway run can raise battery temperatures well above ideal. On the flip side, cold weather can slow ion flow and increase internal resistance.

Always try to park in a shaded spot or garage when available. If your EV offers thermal preconditioning (many newer models do), use it in the winter before plugging in. I’ve also had success with scheduling my charging for early mornings, when ambient temperatures are lower.

Avoid Storing at High Charge or in Heat

If you're going on holiday or won’t be using your car for a few weeks, resist the urge to leave it fully topped up. Batteries degrade fastest when they sit at high voltage in warm conditions.

Instead, let the battery settle around 50% before you park it. If your car has sentry mode or overheat protection enabled, consider disabling them temporarily to avoid phantom drain. I store mine at around 55% in a shaded garage and have seen minimal capacity loss over long periods.

Drive Smoothly, Track Battery Health

How you drive also matters. Frequent hard acceleration, towing, or carrying heavy loads all increase current demand and heat. Smooth driving isn’t just better for safety—it’s easier on the cells.

You can also track your battery condition using apps like TeslaFi, EVNotify, or LeafSpy. These tools can show degradation trends, efficiency drops, or even alert you if your internal resistance is climbing. I check mine monthly and it’s helped me catch potential issues early.

Common EV Charging Problems We See

While driving habits affect the battery, charging system quality is just as important—and sadly, many owners overlook it until it becomes a problem.

We’ve inspected hundreds of home setups, and the same issues keep cropping up.

Overheating and Damaged Cables

Cheap chargers, especially those without good ventilation, can overheat. We’ve seen melted plugs, brown scorch marks, and cracked insulation that’s clearly heat-related. If your cable gets too hot to touch, that’s a major red flag.

Loose or Faulty Wiring

Improperly installed chargers—or cheap extension cables—can cause arcing, which creates fire risks. If your charger keeps tripping your circuit breaker, don’t ignore it. That’s not “just a nuisance,” it’s a warning.

Incompatible or Low-Quality Chargers

Not all chargers are equal. Some struggle to supply your EV’s full rated current, leading to slower charges or even failed sessions. Others lack critical safety features like temperature cutoffs or surge protection. It’s like using a cheap phone charger on a premium device—it might work for a while, but the risk isn't worth it.

Exposure to UK Weather

Outdoor units need to be IP-rated for rain, frost, and even salt mist near coastal areas. We’ve seen units with rusted contacts, waterlogged enclosures, and failed insulation simply because they weren’t built for the British climate.

Ageing or Worn Cables

Like tyres or brake pads, cables wear out. After a few years of daily plugging and unplugging, the outer sheath becomes stiff, cracked, or discoloured. If you notice your charging session stopping prematurely, or the cable heats unevenly, it’s time to replace it.

I change mine every 3–4 years as a preventative measure—especially if the car is used daily.

Why It Pays to Invest in a Quality Charger

Your charger is the interface between your home and your EV’s battery—and yet, many people go for the cheapest option they can find. That’s like running a racehorse on budget fuel.

At Gridlabs, we strongly recommend investing in a high-efficiency, safety-tested home charger—and one of our preferred brands is EV King. Their chargers are engineered specifically for UK conditions, and we’ve seen first-hand how well they perform in real-world scenarios.

They meet all the key requirements:

• Certified safety standards (UKCA, CE, UL)

• Overload, overvoltage, and thermal protection

• Durable weatherproof housing

• Flexible output (up to 22kW, depending on your installation)

• Smart features like app control, charge scheduling, and real-time tracking

Plus, their support team is UK-based and responsive—something that matters when you need help fast.

A charger from EV King isn’t just more convenient—it’s a long-term battery health tool. By managing current flow, avoiding overcharging, and ensuring stable thermal operation, it actively helps preserve your EV’s performance.

If you're thinking about upgrading, check out EV King’s range here – and choose a solution that protects both your investment and your peace of mind.