We would always recommend consulting the vehicle handbook when purchasing a new car, particularly with an EV or PHEV, because manufacturers may have slightly different recommendations when it comes to the optimum approach to charging.

However, as a general rule, we would recommend charging only when you need to rather than every day. The drive battery in your car is not unlike that in your mobile phone - albeit considerably larger - in that its lifespan is mainly measured in cycles of charging and discharging.

Drive batteries are at their happiest between 20% and 80%, so if you charge to 80% on one day and then use it until it is at or close to 20% before recharging, you are keeping the battery in its sweet spot and not using any additional battery 'life' by unnecessary charging. It's not a dissimilar approach to how you might fuel a petrol or diesel car.

The other important things to do are to only charge to 100% capacity when you need the maximum available range. And only use fast chargers when absolutely necessary. While a quick charge is a timesaver, slow charging like you would at home is better for battery health.