To take the car out for a drive ...

[grabble]

... once a week, so that the battery doesn't go flat?

I normally only use it for work, or for ferrying the kids to various activities, but of course now we're all staying home. If I don't take the car out for a short drive every now and again, then if/when I need it for an emergency it may not start!

My husband is a bit of a worrier at the best of the times so he always checks the car battery levels every week and asks me to drive whichever car most needs it (I do all the driving).

Obviously we aren't currently driving much at the moment and yesterday he charged both batteries so that they are ready in case we need them. That must be better for the environment than going for unnecessary drives and leaving cars idling.

@WelcomeToShootingStars my car battery died after not driving it for a week as I said. I have an AA visit receipt as proof seeing as you clearly can't take my word for it. Would you like to see it?

You are completely wrong about the battery not charging while idling. The alternator produces electricity and charges the battery, unless you have a really really old car that has a dynamo!!

I took dd for a drive a couple of times when she's been losing her shit from being overtired but won't nap. Mental health is important too!

Just disconnect the battery

No, YANBU.

DH is still working so he's taken my car a few times just to make sure it's still getting a good run out occasionally. He works 30 miles away so doing that once or twice a week is a real help.

Cars do not need to be moving to charge the battery. Unless you're talking about a hybrid energy recovery system or something like that.

I might be forced to with my car. It's a diesel engine and every so often you have to let the exhaust filter clean unless it will shut down and need a service. This takes on average a 20 minute drive going at least 40mph so motorway or dual carriageway.