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Can I Leave My Electric Van Plugged In Overnight?

Vanaways
Vanaways
2nd Dec 2021
Can I Leave My Electric Van Plugged In Overnight?

This often comes as a surprise to many, but electric vans tend to run much more affordably than fossil fuel options. It really makes sense not just in terms of saving you money but also for the environment. However, there are a few useful things to know when making the switch to electric.

Commercial charging stations at parking lots, shopping centres, and garages have become more widespread, taking care of charging your van at home is often the most convenient solution. So, with that in mind, we explore what you need to know about charging your EV and whether it is safe to do so overnight.

How Charging Electric Vans Works

Charging your electric van is incredibly simple and doing so at a home charging station is common practice these days. For a typical van driver, it’s a case of plugging the charging cable in and leaving it until the morning. Some vans allow electric van users to set the charging start and end times. This can be particularly handy as you’re able to charge during off-peak tariff hours.

Can an EV Be Safely Plugged in Overnight?

The short answer is yes. An electric van will have in-built battery management systems, so there is no risk of overcharging. These systems work by slowing down the charging process when it is sensed that the battery is almost full. Once the battery is fully charged, the system will change to ‘trickle charging’.

EVs will use up some of the battery power to keep certain electric functions running even when the van is parked. This so-called ‘trickle charging’ restores the full battery charge periodically until you remove the type 1 or type 2 charging cable. This permits EV owners to find their vans fully charged, but not overcharged once they are ready to use them next.

What If you’re Leaving the Van for a Prolonged Period?

As previously mentioned, overnight charging is common practice and a simple solution to ensure when you typically leave home each day to drive to work. If you’re not going to use your car for an extended period, many ask, is it ok to leave your car plugged in? The best solution, in this case, is to consult your van manual.

It is not the case that leaving your car plugged in for a couple of weeks will have a significantly bad effect on your van, however, sustaining full charge for a long time may cause the battery to slightly decrease quicker over time. This could negatively impact its lifespan but not massively so. If you are particularly wary, it may be best to err on the side of caution and to fully charge the battery and then unplug it.

If you’re looking for the best New Electric Van Deals, look no further. We’re proud to be the home of low-cost New Electric Vans. To find out more please contact us today.

Vanaways Reviews

   
Zoe Batchelor

Zoe Batchelor

17 January 2025

"Love the van, Perfect as the spec I ordered, Saving up for the next one, thank you Adrian and Team, Boyd Batchelor, Tillage Nurseries"

Lisa Russell

Lisa Russell

05 August 2024

"Found these guys online and was a little bit wary to buy a new van from someone I hadn't heard of. From the off, the first phone call was professional and gave me all the information that I needed, Theo was great, helpful and I proceeded to order my new van, Paige sorted the paperwork quickly and efficiently and within 10 days I had my new van delivered! The price was very competitive and all parts of the transaction were easy and hassle free, wouldn't hesitate to recommend these guys, Thank you so much for a really good experience."

Yusuf U. Gadzama

Yusuf U. Gadzama

20 August 2024

"I was looking for a good deal on a van online and then came across Van away, at first I was a bit sceptical but later went ahead and bought a Peugeot boxer on an unbeatable price online. The sell team were fantastic all the way and very helpful to say the least. I will highly recommend Van away to anybody that's looking for a van of any kind. Thanks Van Away for your first class service and I will be looking forward to a future deal."

Clare Wood

Clare Wood

19 November 2024

"Just purchased a 2nd van through Vanaways to add to our company fleet. Steve Catley was helpful, communicative and informative all the way through the process. We would definitely use Vanaways again, and would not hesitate to recommend them."

Jay Pee Ay

Jay Pee Ay

05 December 2024

"Paige was outstanding in her responsiveness to what presented as a serious problem for our company. The finance company used by her company caused unnecessary and significant delays in the delivery of our van - the pain of which was mitigated somewhat by Paige's proactive communication, informative and realistic communication and very professional demeanour. I'd recommend her and she meant our view of Vanaways was overall positive."

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