[swvann]

Hello All,

I am an owner of a 2012 Chevy Volt. I absolutely love it! I bought it used and have had it a little over a year. The airport here in Memphis, TN just recently opened a new parking garage for economy parking. The garage has 10 EV charging station. For $6 a day, it's not a bad deal! I will be gone for 6 days, not sure if it was okay to leave it on a charger for that long. The temps here have been in the upper 90s, low 100s heat index.

Would it be okay to leave it on the charger that long?

Thanks for any advice!

 

[leppard3]

If $6 per day includes free use of the chargers, then yes, I would plug it in for the six days. If it is $6 per day to use the chargers plus the cost of parking, then obviously DO NOT use the chargers. And it is perfectly fine to leave it plugged in for six days.

 

[llninja]

Also, don't worry about the heat. The car will turn on the AC while plugged in to keep the battery cool. The battery temps go much higher than 90 degrees. Heat index doesn't matter, it's only a measure of what it feels like to humans, cars have no such feelings.

I wish my airport had EV charging. The closest airport to me has none. One airport 40 miles away has free charging in the 2 hour short term lot, but none in the long term lot. O'hare Airport (3 hours away) has EV charging in their daily parking lot, but the cost to park climbs per hour to encourage you to leave or park in daily or economy parking.

 

[edk-austin]

Here in Austin at the "Fast Park and Relax" lot, they have pedestals that support 4 cars each. You find a spot that has a free plug, plug in your car, and later when fully charged, a parking lot attendant will unplug your car so it is available for the next user. I guess as long as the average stay is less than 4 days, it works out ok. Cost of charging is included in the parking fee.

 

[caskConditionedAle]

Do those public chargers remain connected after the EV completes a charge? They may actually disconnect.

 

[Sir*real]

I've used the EV stations at Memphis International for my 2013 and it's been great! Charging is free and it's nice to come back to a fully charged vehicle. The software for the battery temp will cool or heat the battery if necessary so it's always better be on a charger whenever possible.

 

[DrMiguelitoLoveless]

I would think that after the car is through charging, it will draw no more than a trickle of power for internal systems and keeping the 12v battery charged.

 

[Slotracer577]

I know on my charge station I can hear the relay engage and it does disconnect even in the delay charging mode. I don't know for sure, but it appears that the car knows it doesn't need charging and disconnects the power.

 

[2VoltFamily]

Hello All,

I am an owner of a 2012 Chevy Volt. I absolutely love it! I bought it used and have had it a little over a year. The airport here in Memphis, TN just recently opened a new parking garage for economy parking. The garage has 10 EV charging station. For $6 a day, it's not a bad deal! I will be gone for 6 days, not sure if it was okay to leave it on a charger for that long. The temps here have been in the upper 90s, low 100s heat index.

Would it be okay to leave it on the charger that long?

Thanks for any advice!

Yes, you can leave it on a charger that long. Make sure you turn off the alarm system so that if someone unplugs your car the alarm does not sound.

 

[Norton]

Here in Austin at the "Fast Park and Relax" lot, they have pedestals that support 4 cars each. You find a spot that has a free plug, plug in your car, and later when fully charged, a parking lot attendant will unplug your car so it is available for the next user. ...

Well that solves the airport conundrum where the OP is hogging a charger for 5 days and 20 hrs after the Volt is topped up.

I like it !

But, when it's 110° you want TMS to keep the battery temp happy, which leaving it plugged in will accomplish.

At least unplugged in high heat at an airport you can 'Precondition' the cabin as soon as you have 'Wheels on Ground' with the phone app. I'm fairly certain that will start TMS cooling the battery pack also. Do it twice if your bags are slow...
The main thing is don't flog the battery pack when it is really hot or cold.

 

[rjmbsmith]

Hello All,

I am an owner of a 2012 Chevy Volt. I absolutely love it! I bought it used and have had it a little over a year. The airport here in Memphis, TN just recently opened a new parking garage for economy parking. The garage has 10 EV charging station. For $6 a day, it's not a bad deal! I will be gone for 6 days, not sure if it was okay to leave it on a charger for that long. The temps here have been in the upper 90s, low 100s heat index.

Would it be okay to leave it on the charger that long?

Thanks for any advice!

I have left my plugged in for a month every year for the last 5 years (2014 model). No problem.
it’s better than leaving it unplugged. BTW/ I replaced the 12 volt hater last year as preventive maintenance.
russs

 

[llninja]

I have left my plugged in for a month every year for the last 5 years (2014 model). No problem.
it’s better than leaving it unplugged. BTW/ I replaced the 12 volt hater last year as preventive maintenance.
russs

We need to be more accepting of all different voltages, models, and colors of EVs.