Why your EV battery still loses charge while it's parked

Your vehicle doesn't truly sleep when you lock it.

By Husain Parvez Oct. 24, 2026 7:00 pm EST Alexander Shapovalov/Getty Images Add Engadget on Google: Google Discover

It's already costly enough to leave your EV at the airport for a week without it quietly discharging electricity while you're away. You could end up with a reduced battery percentage, even if the odometer hasn't budged. The truth is that an EV will lose a bit of charge while it's parked, but the amount lost will vary depending on the EV and what it has been doing while you were away.