Many of the classic petrol saving tips for ICE cars work for extending range in EVs, too.
Driving
- Drive smoothly without harsh acceleration or braking.
- Use an 'Eco' mode to ensure more gentle acceleration.
- Use regenerative braking, other than in braking emergencies.
- Use cruise control where possible.
- Drive slower, particularly on the open road. Reducing your speed from 112kmh to 96kmh will use 14% less energy.
Charging
- Time your charge so your battery reaches full just before you hit the road.
- Keep rapid charging to a minimum as it can degrade the battery life over time.
- Wait to charge after a long trip so the battery has time to cool down first.
Conditions
- As weather extremes can reduce range, park in a garage when very cold or in the shade when very hot.
- Go easy on the AC while driving and try heat/cool your car while it's still plugged in at home before you hit the road.
- Avoid high-consumption driving conditions by plan routes that avoid hills and stops.
Car management
- Remove unnecessary items from the car. An extra 50kg can use 2% more battery.
- Wind the windows up when travelling over 60kmh.
- Keep your tyres properly inflated.