We know that one of the biggest concerns that electric vehicle (EV) drivers have is how to get the most mileage possible between charges, especially when they’re going on a long trip, which is why we’ve put together this article packed with tips on how to just that!
How to Give Yourself the Largest Mileage Range to Start With
To start with, you want to make sure you have the largest range possible when you set off on your long trip. We don’t usually recommend fully charging your EV in day-to-day use but if you have a long drive ahead of you then that’s when you should be making sure the battery is fully charged.
If you have a home charger, then we recommend charging the car overnight before you set off. If you don’t then you’ll want to fully charge the car as close to your departure time as possible, and avoid unnecessary driving before setting off to give you the longest range.
Another way you can put yourself in the best starting point is to unload any unnecessary items from the car. This includes removing things like a roof box or bike racks if they aren’t needed for your trip. Reducing the vehicle weight means that you’ll use less battery to travel the same distance as you would if the car was heavier.
How to Make the Most of Your EV Charge
Getting the longest range isn’t just about making sure you’ve got the best starting range, but also how you use the car whilst driving as there are a few factors that could dramatically reduce your range.
Firstly, how you drive will have an impact. If you’re regularly accelerating and braking harshly then you’re going to be using more power to accelerate and decelerate as well as not regaining the energy through regenerative braking. Instead, it’s best to smoothly accelerate and slowly decelerate, which will activate the regenerative braking system, to make sure.
Secondly, where you are driving will have an effect on the range. Going uphill requires more power than driving on flat ground or going downhill. Similarly, if you’re stopping and starting frequently in city-centre traffic this will use more battery power than travelling at a consistent speed over the same time period. We know there won’t be a lot of choice in terms of your route, but if you do have the option to bypass city centres or travel on a flatter road then we recommend taking it.
Another thing to be aware of is that using the ancillary features will drain battery power, meaning there is less available to power the electric motor and reduce your potential mileage before needing a charger. This means using features like the sat nav, radio, and charging your phone will all be reducing your mileage. Whilst it might not be by a lot you might find that minimising your usage of these features will get you a little further in your travels.
How to Recharge as Quickly as Possible
The third element of having the best long-distance trips in your EV is recharging as quickly as possible if you do need to stop on the road.
One way to minimise the time waiting for your car to charge is to make sure you have the appropriate charging apps already installed on your phone and have an account set up on it / with the charger provider so that you don’t have to worry about that when you get there.
A lot of service stations will offer rapid chargers to reduce the time spent there, and if there’s the option of using one then we recommend doing so as it can massively reduce the time you’re stopped for. This may take a little more preparation though, so that you know where the faster chargers are located and can plan to stop there.
We also recommend timing your charging breaks to match your rest stops on longer trips – take it as an opportunity to stretch your legs, eat and use the facilities so the time passes a little more quickly for you.
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