# What will happen to an electric car battery if I let it sit for long periods? **URL:** \ **Category:** General Discussion\ **Created:** [December 1, 2018, 6:00pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-will-happen-to-an-electric-car-battery-if-i-let-it-sit-for-long-periods/130000 "2018-12-01T18:00:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![FrancescaSilva](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e36b37/32.png) [@FrancescaSilva](https://community.cartalk.com/u/FrancescaSilva)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2018, 6:00pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-will-happen-to-an-electric-car-battery-if-i-let-it-sit-for-long-periods/130000/1 "2018-12-01T18:00:57Z")
I’m considering buying an electric car for a family vacation house in another state. At times, the car will sit for as long as two months without anyone driving it. Will the battery be ok if I leave it unplugged for that long? ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2018, 6:13pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-will-happen-to-an-electric-car-battery-if-i-let-it-sit-for-long-periods/130000/2 "2018-12-01T18:13:01Z")
1. Do a web search for a Chevrolet Bolt Forum 2. Ask the service department at your local dealer ---
**Author:** ![ken2116](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f19dbf/32.png) [@ken2116](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ken2116)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2018, 2:41am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-will-happen-to-an-electric-car-battery-if-i-let-it-sit-for-long-periods/130000/3 "2018-12-03T02:41:34Z")
Good question. Batteries will be permanently degraded if they go too low. Depending on how smart the charger is they also can be damaged by long term charging. Agree with “Volvo”, check with the manufacturer and the Bolt forums. This also may be covered in the owners manual of the car you are considering. Another thing to consider is how much you expect to drive the car over the next 8-10 years as batteries have a finite lifetime, even if used lightly. The economics of an electric car probably are decent if you drive 10kmi/yr, maybe not so good if only 3kmi. ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2018, 2:47am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-will-happen-to-an-electric-car-battery-if-i-let-it-sit-for-long-periods/130000/4 "2018-12-03T02:47:57Z")
I thought this thread was about the Chevrolet Bolt but that does not appear in the header anymore. I just saw that the Bolt starts at 36000.00 . That sounds way too expensive for something at a vacation home. I think a nice used gas small hatchback would make more sense at least you would not have to charge when you went there. ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2018, 3:09am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-will-happen-to-an-electric-car-battery-if-i-let-it-sit-for-long-periods/130000/5 "2018-12-03T03:09:24Z")
Pretty sure that you do NOT want to leave an EV siting for months. I know that’s a no-no for my hybrid. Just buy a gas-only compact car and a battery tender. ---
**Author:** ![FrancescaSilva](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e36b37/32.png) [@FrancescaSilva](https://community.cartalk.com/u/FrancescaSilva)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2018, 6:11pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-will-happen-to-an-electric-car-battery-if-i-let-it-sit-for-long-periods/130000/6 "2018-12-03T18:11:08Z")
Thank you! ---
**Author:** ![FrancescaSilva](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e36b37/32.png) [@FrancescaSilva](https://community.cartalk.com/u/FrancescaSilva)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2018, 6:20pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-will-happen-to-an-electric-car-battery-if-i-let-it-sit-for-long-periods/130000/7 "2018-12-03T18:20:05Z")
Good idea, thank you! ---
**Author:** ![FrancescaSilva](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e36b37/32.png) [@FrancescaSilva](https://community.cartalk.com/u/FrancescaSilva)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2018, 6:23pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-will-happen-to-an-electric-car-battery-if-i-let-it-sit-for-long-periods/130000/8 "2018-12-03T18:23:26Z")
Thank you very much! ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2018, 6:34pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-will-happen-to-an-electric-car-battery-if-i-let-it-sit-for-long-periods/130000/9 "2018-12-03T18:34:53Z")
Here are the instructions from the Chevy Bolt owner’s manual: **Four Weeks to 12 Months** . Discharge the high voltage battery until two or three bars remain on the battery range indicator (Battery symbol) on the instrument cluster. . Do not plug in the charge cord. . Remove the black negative (−) cable from the 12-volt battery and attach a trickle charger to the battery terminals or keep the 12-volt battery cables connected and trickle charge from the underhood remote positive (+) and negative (−) terminals. See Jump Starting - North America 0 295 for the location of these terminals. Caution The vehicle is equipped with an AGM/VRLA 12-volt battery, which can be damaged by using the (Continued) Caution (Continued) incorrect type of trickle charger. An AGM/VRLA-compatible charger must be used, with the appropriate setting selected. Follow the trickle charger manufacturer instructions. After the battery cable is reconnected, it is possible that the vehicle may not operate. If this happens, the high voltage battery may need to be charged. ---
**Author:** ![FrancescaSilva](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e36b37/32.png) [@FrancescaSilva](https://community.cartalk.com/u/FrancescaSilva)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2018, 7:41pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-will-happen-to-an-electric-car-battery-if-i-let-it-sit-for-long-periods/130000/10 "2018-12-03T19:41:37Z")
Thank you very much!