If you are not using your car regularly, we recommend starting the engine and letting it run for a period of at least 15 minutes every two weeks. It is important to allow the engine to run for this long so the battery can charge properly. Be sure that your car is outside when the engine is running and don’t leave it unattended. If you have an electric car you’re not planning on using for some time, the batteries’ State of Charge (SOC) should ideally be maintained at 50% and shouldn’t drop below 30%. You don’t need to charge the 12-volt battery as this is supported through charging of the High Voltage (HV) Battery.
If you haven’t driven in a while we recommend checking the pressure of your tyres – especially if you’re taking a journey on a motorway where higher speeds may be involved. If you don’t know what pressure your tyres should be the recommended pressures can be found on the inside of the fuel or charge flap. You can also view the current pressure of your tyres on the instrument cluster after driving for a few minutes on your next essential journey. If your car has been left in wet or damp conditions, a thin layer of surface oxidisation can build up on the surface of the brake discs, which may mean they sound a little noisy at first. This is perfectly normal and gently applying the brakes when driving will help clear this