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I'm not sure I buy Cobb's assertion that topping off the batteries every night would reduce the life of the batteries.
a) Owner's of cmax energi's does this now, as does any other plugin EV or PHEV
b) The charge/discharge cycle during normal driving is several times a day as the battery runs down and then is recharged either by ICE or by regenerative braking.
c) Slow charging up the battery overnight so that you start with a fully charged battery in the morning would directly allow the engine to primarily be used to move the car forward and not recharge the batteries when you might need extra power to get going.
d) The slow charge using 120V plug would probably be gentler (less heat) on the batteries then fast charging with the ICE.
e) It seems to me that topping off the Etank overnight would reduce the number of charge/discharge cycles.
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