5 Tips On How To Increase Electric Car Range

 

 

We understand it, instant torque is fun! Putting your foot down at a green light and shooting off into the distance is a great feeling (especially when you leave and ICE vehicle behind), but it isn't doing your range any favours. By setting off smoothly and gradually increasing your speed, you are keeping energy consumption to a minimum.

 

 

Using regenerative braking is key to increasing the range you can get out of your EV. By anticipating what is happening in front of you, you can simply lift off your accelerator and gradually come to a stop all while feeding that energy back into the battery. Not only is this safer as you are slowing down sooner, but you're also feeding what would usually be wasted energy back into the battery.

 

 

Heating up your car uses a lot of energy, so it's important that you don't forget to turn it off! One way to get around this is to pre-heat your EV while it's still charging. Depending on the length of your journey, it may keep the car warm without having to keep the heater on. By leaving your heating on while driving you'll be eating into your range. If your car is equipped with heated seats and a heated steering wheel then use these to keep things nice and toasty instead!

 

 

Electric vehicles aren't as efficient on motorways as they are at lower speeds. When you're faced with a motorway journey, try to get into the slipstream of other vehicles (preferably large vehicles such as lorries) as much as you can. By sitting behind them at a safe distance, you are reducing the resistance your EV faces as the vehicle in front is pushing through the stationary air for you. This in turn boosts your range.

 

 

Aerodynamics are extremely important when it comes to efficiency. You will achieve maximum efficiency by driving the car as it came out of the showroom without any added extras. Accessories such as roof boxes and bicycle racks will add more aerodynamic drag leading to higher energy consumption, especially at faster speeds. Driving with your windows down will also increase drag unless you are crawling through traffic at slow speeds. To combat this, use your air conditioning in short bursts to cool down the car.

 

Of course, these measures are just a suggestion. If you aren't travelling long distances then you won't have to worry too much about preserving your range. Charging your EV often will mean your car is topped up to cover most of your journeys comfortably. If you do need to charge your EV while you're out and about, you can find an Alfa Power charger here.