Any benefits to plugging in all the time?

[jwanderson88]

I'm still unclear about the benefits to keeping your Rivian plugged in all the time. Are there any?

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[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

Obvious benefit: that it is adequately charged whenever you need to go somewhere, anywhere, planned or otherwise. If you don’t want to follow that opinion, you don’t have to. Leave it unplugged and subject to various rate of SOC drain, pending environmental and other factors that impact battery chemistry and capacity. The always-be-charging strategy is just an opinion. There is no manufacturer or lab testing to prove that it is unquestionably the way to go. If there was, they’d put that reco in print in owner manuals. Either way you choose, it doesn’t hurt anything but potential for slight inconvenience and maybe egos (because this will be argued over and over, with no clear scientific winner… again).

 

[WSea]

This time of year (colder months) I always plug in. However, I have the charge % set lower than SOC. Via app I reset to higher % about an hour or two prior to driving again to warm the battery for better eff. Of course this all depends on where I'm going and needing a higher SOC at departure.

 

[jwanderson88]

My last car was a Volt. They had been around a while and people knew what to do. It was suggested that you leave it plugged in all the time. I know that there were things going on when it was sitting unused in the driveway, because you could hear it. Sometimes it was quite loud. I think it was trying to keep the battery at the right temperature. Cool in the summer and warm in the winter.

 

[mkg3]

I do not keep the vehicles plugged in. Even if I'm away for a week.

My SOC limit is set to 85% and once its charged to it, I disconnect until I need to charge it again when the SOC is down to 30ish % or a week has gone by, whichever occurs first.

I have done this approach for over 5 yrs with my Tesla and now with R1S. This way I also share the home charger between the two EVs and have no issue charging both vehicles for our routine weekly driving.

 

[Dark-Fx]

My last car was a Volt.

Former Volt and Bolt (and Hummer EV) owner. Rivian is more aggressive about battery maintenance than GM has ever been. They also aren't as efficient with the energy usage when the vehicle is not being used. I don't think it is necessary to always be plugged in while the vehicles are sitting, but if they are going to sit for weeks and you have the option of plugging in, being plugged in is better.

 

[jwanderson88]

Okay, Brian, I'm impressed. A Hummer EV?! All I can say is Wow! At car shows they have to borrow them from owners so they have one to show. I saw one at a Salt Lake auto show and they didn't want people even breathing near it.

 

[BCondrey]

I leave it plugged in to 110V because of the logistics of getting access to my wife's Tesla Gen3 charger. Purely convenience. I stay topped off at 80% SOC most of the time.

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