More people than ever are choosing to drive electric cars, there are a few things that are helpful to know that may ease your transition into the new world of electric automobiles, regardless of whether you’ve made the decision to switch from a conventional internal combustion engine to an EV or you’re still unsure if it’s suitable for you.
1. Download a few EV apps
First off, it’s a good idea to download several apps for your new EV because various apps have different specialties and uses, and it’s also a good idea to keep backups. The obvious suggestions include a charging app for when you’re on the go, an app that can assist with determining your route in advance, which is especially helpful when you’re taking longer journeys, and an app that conforms with the maker of your car (you’ll get a lot of useful information there, plus it’s frequently where you’ll receive necessary updates).
2. Battery condition and charging
Knowing the fundamentals of battery health could help you improve the lifespan of your car’s battery because battery health is indeed an essential component of owning an EV. Because a healthy battery can store more energy, taking care of your battery will prevent it from deteriorating over time and reducing the amount of range you receive.
Don’t fully charge the battery to 100% each time you charge it to prevent battery deterioration because doing so can harm the battery in your car and reduce range. This might seem like a strange advice, but it functions similarly to other electrical gadgets like computers and cell phones. You may have noticed that these devices’ batteries drain more quickly over time than they did when they were first purchased. This is essentially the same concept, except that most people are likely to replace these gadgets more frequently than they change their cars.
If you want to know when to charge, a decent rule of thumb is to wait until the battery drops to 10–20% before charging and don’t fully charge it—keep it at about 80% capacity.
3. Recharging at home
Consider purchasing a home charger if you’ve got the chance to do so. It is such a helpful feature to have the confidence to leave your charge overnight and awaken to a fully charged battery, all while staying in the ease of your own residence!
Because smart home chargers are so much more efficient than that of the least expensive home chargers now on the market, you’ll also ultimately save a lot more money than if you continue to use a 3-pin plug. Also, you will be able to remotely set your charging time using your mobile (if you have a subsequent app in your device). Also, scheduling it to charge during off-peak hours can save you a tonne of money because electricity is typically much less expensive during these times. RightCharge states that installing a home charger might result in annual savings of up to £200.
4. The impact of environmental conditions on range
You may maximise your range by taking care of your battery, as we already discussed. Nevertheless, did you realise that the temperature and the weather may additionally have an impact?
Even while thermal management technologies are designed to prevent overheating in electric car batteries, it is still preferable to protect your battery by avoiding extreme temperature changes wherever possible. In order to prevent your batteries from overheating, choose a parking spot in the shade if at all possible. Likewise, if you’ve just returned from a lengthy trip, wait a little while before charging your automobile so the battery has had an opportunity to cool down.
Also, it’s natural to notice a decrease in range throughout the winter because intense cold usually causes your battery’s capacity to drop, giving you less range. The easiest approach to guard your vehicle against these environmental effects is to keep it in a garage with moderate weather.
If you want to get the most range out of your car, bear in mind that the use of your temperature control settings may drain the battery faster if it’s exceptionally hot or cold outdoors, especially when you’re operating your air conditioning.
5. Battery charge and acceleration
Fast acceleration is one of the most enjoyable aspects of operating an electric car, but it really consumes a significant amount of power and consequently depletes your battery more quickly than gradual acceleration. Moreover, bear in mind that driving quicker consumes more energy, so if you’re attempting to save power, pay attention to the speedometer!
6. Tire pressure and wheel size
The range of your EV can be impacted by tyre pressure, an often-overlooked factor that might limit your range. Poor tyre pressure will result in increased rolling resistance, which will reduce your range because moving your electric car will consume more energy. Also, choosing to even have large alloy wheels may increase rolling resistance; take that into account if you want your vehicle to have the greatest possible range.
7. Get familiar with your EV’s range
The Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP) rating will provide you a general estimate of the range when you initially choose your ideal EV. But, the EV Database, an excellent site with some more accurate numbers of what your day-to-day range may look like, is what we recommend for a more accurate picture.
That might sound like a no-brainer, but the best way to determine how far your EV’s range will go is to test it out and get to know its capabilities.
8. Prepare your route in advance
Continuing from the first suggestion, it might be helpful to use a route planning app prior so that you’ll know where and when you’re able to charge your car ahead of time when you’re on the road. By doing this, you can avoid having range anxiety and simply enjoy the drive.
Even if there may be enough charging stations, planning longer trips as a rookie EV driver may assist to alleviate your worries. The EDF Energy Zap-Map, WattsUp, Plugshare, and even Google Maps are wonderful apps to download to help with route planning; learn more about them here.
9. Enjoy yourselves!
The last piece of advice is to have fun, even though it may sound foolish. Before hitting the open road, getting acquainted yourself with your new EV’s features and exploring them may prove useful for both enjoyment and practical reasons.
If you recently purchased a Mercedes EQS, why don’t give the massaging feature on the seats a try? Maybe play a few games of “caraoke” with your kids while driving a Tesla Model 3 or amaze them with a whoopie cushion. No matter whatever vehicle you decide on, have fun discovering all the new amenities so you can improve the quality of your everyday commute or long trips.
Are you thinking about switching to an electric car? Why not look through our website E Auto Arena to discover which vehicles are now available, how to save battery, How to manage your EV, the types, news, views around the World on EVs. Drop a comment if you feel you can add more to this piece and let us know how you feel about EVs.
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