Electric Cars Left Idle During Mudik: Must Maintain Battery State of Charge

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – Ahead of the Mudik season, some vehicle owners choose to leave their cars at home for extended periods, ranging from days to weeks. This also applies to electric vehicle (EV) users. However, unlike conventional cars, electric vehicles have a main component—the battery—that needs attention when the car is not used for a long time. According to him, the State of Charge (SOC) or battery charging level should be kept within a minimum limit.

‘If an electric vehicle is left unused for 1–2 weeks, it is advisable to ensure the battery level is at an ideal condition with a SOC of at least 50 per cent. This level helps maintain battery cell stability and prevents the risk of capacity loss due to the battery being too low or too full over a relatively long period,’ Budi told Kompas.com on Wednesday (3 Apr 2026).

Budi added that keeping the SOC in that range also helps maintain the battery’s performance so that it remains optimal when the vehicle is used again after storage.

A similar view was expressed by Arif Nugroho, Hyundai Kalijaga Cirebon Service Manager.

According to Arif, the safest battery condition when an EV is not in use is between 40 per cent and 60 per cent.

‘Ideally the battery should be kept around 40–60 per cent. This level is the safest to safeguard the health of lithium-ion batteries when the vehicle is not used for a period,’ Arif said.

This condition could affect the health of the battery cells if stored for a sufficiently long period.

Therefore, before leaving an electric car during Mudik, owners are advised to ensure the battery level is in the ideal range so that the battery condition remains preserved when the vehicle is used again.