I'm sure it was running in EV in the garage and as they moved it around to do what they needed to do to it. Totally normal for the battery indicator to go down during such use. I had mine in for the intake manifold TSB the other day and noticed it was down about halfway when I got it back. I just happened to notice it was nearly "full" when I pulled in, I generally ignore it because, as other shave said, it's basically an "idiot light" in that it's not showing a precise, linear display of 0-100. Totally normal, it's not like it can "run out" or run too low. It's a smart system, it use the gas engine to keep the battery in the range it wants it.
I wanted to address this point separately... how, in 5000 miles of driving, have you never had the battery meter that low?? The traction battery level goes up and down, up and down, all day long for me. More in town driving? Battery goes lower until speed pick up and require ICE to come on and it charges things up. Sit in the school pickup line for a long time? Battery goes down down down until the ICE kicks in and brings it back up, then the cycle starts all over again. Lots of hilly highway driving at 70+ where the ICE is running full time? Battery fills up and mostly stays there. What kind of driving do you do? (honest question, not trying to be antagonistic at all)
Never, lowest was 3 bar down. Never seen it at 50%, that's why I was surprised. I mean how much moving around are they doing? I pull up, they park the car, technician drives it to his stall, done park it, wash it and then back to me in 2 hours. I drive it all the time like I've stole it. That's why our average MPG is only 40.
BTW, just saw the new reminder sticker the dealer put on the windshield. Mile for next free oil change 10,000 miles. Glad to see that this dealer realize that we should change oil at every 5000.
Sit and turn on the ac within minutes the battery will drop all the way down then ICE will start to charge it back up. Don't worry my car has done this hundreds and hundreds of times. Thats how the car saves gas by using the battery when it can.
I've sat in the car with the ignition on with A/C on (that's when I realized this thing got an electric A/C compressor) for lengthy period of time and I've seen the battery indicator go back down one bar, but never more than 2.
It needs to be hot out and it may take 5-10 mins but the battery will drain all the way down to two bars or so and then the ICE will start. What i was trying to say to the OP is thats it is normal. Thats what batteries do they discharge and then charge.
