General information about charging
5-3Charging your vehicle
• DO charge the Battery to a full charge
before leaving it unplugged. This
maintains the charge level needed to
keep the Battery’s electronics
operational. If storing for more than 15
days, it is strongly recommended that you
keep it plugged in.
• DO NOT expose an unplugged vehicle to
ambient temperatures below -20°F
(-29°C) or above 120°F (49°C.
Use the vehicle’s Touch Screen to determine
the charge level and temperature of the
Battery. For details, refer to the Touch Screen
Users Manual, provided in your owners
package.
Storing your vehicle
If you plan to leave the vehicle unused for
longer than 15 days, it is recommended that
you leave the vehicle connected to the High
Power Connector and select the ‘Storage’
charge setting using the Touch Screen. When
you charge the vehicle using the Storage
charge setting, the vehicle is automatically
kept at a reduced charge level to optimize the
life of the individual cells within the Battery.
Keep in mind that the reduced charge level
also reduces the vehicle’s available driving
range. So remember to change the setting
back to ‘Standard’ before taking the vehicle
on an extended drive. For details on how to
select the Storage charge setting, refer to the
Touch Screen Users Manual, provided in your
owners package.
Maximum level of charge
The maximum level of charge the Battery will
be charged to depends on the charge setting
you select (see About charge settings,
page 5-4). The Standard charge setting is the
preferred setting for normal use. Selecting
the Range or Performance charge settings
will charge the Battery to its maximum
allowable charge level, whereas selecting the
Storage charge setting will charge the
Battery to a relatively low level.
Charge level and range are
estimates
The vehicle’s Touch Screen displays the
charge level and number of miles you can
drive on the remaining charge. The numbers
that are displayed are estimates only. The
Touch Screen allows you to display these
estimates based on how you’ve been driving
for the last 40 miles (64 kms) (EST RANGE)
or how many miles you can achieve in ideal
driving situations (IDEAL RANGE). Therefore,
if you have been driving on hills for the past
40 miles (64 kms), and you are now driving
on a flat highway, the number of miles you
can drive on the remaining charge will
actually be more than the estimate that is
displayed when EST RANGE is selected.
Likewise, if you are displaying remaining
miles based on IDEAL RANGE, but are using
the vehicle’s air conditioning system and
driving aggressively, the number of miles you
can drive on the remaining charge will be less
the estimate that is displayed. Charge level
and estimated remaining mileage are also
displayed on the vehicle’s LCD panel (see
page 6-11).
The charge level and estimated mileage are
continuously updated. Also, they may be
lower or higher after a period of rest. For
example, when parking your vehicle you
notice that the estimated remaining mileage
is 85. When returning to your vehicle a few
hours later, you notice that the estimated
mileage is now 91. This is normal behavior and
is not a cause for concern. The mileage that is
displayed when the vehicle has been at rest is
more accurate.
How long does it take to charge?
The amount of time it takes to fully charge
the vehicle will vary depending on current
and voltage. Charge time is also impacted by
both the ambient temperature and the
vehicle’s Battery temperature—if out of the
optimal range, the HVAC system starts up
and diverts a portion of the energy. It also
depends on the charge setting you are using.
For example, a full charge at Range or
Performance takes approximately 15% longer.
Use the following table as a guideline when
estimating how long it will take to charge
your vehicle. This table assumes you are
charging a fully depleted Battery to a full
charge using the Standard or Range charge
setting. Charge times are estimates only.
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