How To Extend Electric Car Range In 2024
INCLUDING EV range anxiety, electric car range in cold weather and tips for how to extend your EV’s range
Electric vehicles (EVs) have significantly improved in terms of range over recent years.
Today’s EVs typically offer nearly 300 miles per charge in the US. In fact, some EVs now surpass the distance a gasoline car can cover on a full tank.
For most people, the range provided by EVs comfortably meets the demands of everyday commuting. Electric car batteries also can last for hundreds of thousands of miles.
However, if you suspect you’re going to need every bit of juice, there are some ways you could extend an EV beyond its listed range – check out 6 ways to extend your EV range below.
The 6 ways to extend an EV's range include:
- Time Your Charge
- Drive Smoothly at Lower Speeds
- Maximize Regenerative Braking
- Travel Light
- Take Care of Your Tires
- Use Your Heater and Ac Sparingly
You should also keep in mind that on a road trip, it's essential to plan your charging stops. High-speed charging stations are commonly found along major highways, typically located near restaurants or shopping centers, and can charge your vehicle up to 80% in about 30 minutes.
It's also important to consider the impact of cold weather on your driving range. Just as gas-powered vehicles lose efficiency in the cold, electric vehicle (EV) batteries can see a significant reduction in range under such conditions. More details can be found below.
Remember too that stop-and-go driving tends to extend your range compared to highway driving, as regenerative braking helps recharge the battery. On highways, you can maximize your range—sometimes even surpassing the EPA estimate—by reducing your speed to around 60 mph. You'll get a good sense of your EV's range by experimenting with different speeds, terrains, and weather conditions.
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How To Maximize Your Electric Car Range
There are many ways to extend your electric car’s range beyond just charging your EV.
If you’re looking to avoid electric vehicle range anxiety (which is largely unnecessary), follow these tips:
1. TIME YOUR CHARGE
To preserve EV battery life, you will want to only charge to about 80%.
However, if you think you will need a full charge then try to time it so that it’s at full strength right before you drive.
Tip: Timing your charge for off-peak hours could also lower your electricity bill.
2. DRIVE SMOOTHLY AT LOWER SPEEDS
EVs do best with city driving, not highway driving.
Slower speeds with lots of braking and smooth, even starts will get the most miles out of your EV.
If you are driving on the highway, avoid speeding. Also, avoid unnecessary fluctuations in speed.
3. MAXIMIZE REGENERATIVE BRAKING
Regenerative braking is a major advantage of electric battery powered vehicles over gas powered vehicles. Your electric motor adds charge when it slows the car down.
This not only saves money on brake pad and rotor maintenance, but also will help recharge the battery while the car is slowing.
Essentially, instead of hard-braking and using conventional friction to slow or stop, your car can recover energy from the vehicle’s forward motion, using the kinetic energy to charge your car.
Usually regenerative braking adds 10-15% more range with city driving and a negligible amount with highway driving. Under optimum conditions such as an extended trip downhill, regenerative braking can recharge your vehicle up to 50%. Over time, this can really add up.
Tip: You should enable your car’s maximum regenerative setting. Of course, use the brakes when necessary and when possible try to avoid slamming the brakes.
Learn more about regenerative braking.
4. TRAVEL LIGHT
Don’t keep unnecessary weight in the trunk. Also, avoid unnecessary items on top of your car. Unused roof racks and even flags affect the aerodynamics.
5. TAKE CARE OF YOUR TIRES
Make sure they are properly inflated according to the recommended PSI by your car’s manufacturer. The right level of inflation can vary with temperature as well, so pay attention to the weather.
6. USE YOUR HEATER AND AC SPARINGLY
In cold weather, your EV range will be better if you rely on the heated seats and heated steering wheel instead of running the car’s heater.
You can pre-heat too while the car is plugged in.
With hot weather, opening the windows can save energy but affect aerodynamics, especially at higher speeds. If you’re ok with just the fan, great. If not, then the windows are the second best option over running the AC if you want to achieve maximum efficiency.
Do You Want To Learn More About EV Batteries In 2024?
If you want to learn more about EV batteries or how to get the most out of your EV battery, there are some tips in this guide that can help.
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Electric Car Range Anxiety
Do Batteries Lose Range Over Time?
Some potential EV drivers hold off due to concerns about EV battery range.
However, EV battery range loss and EV range anxiety are largely overblown.
On average, EV batteries lose just 2.3% of capacity per year. With ideal climate and charging conditions, the loss is 1.6%.
EV range anxiety has more to do with the perception of early EVs’ range than the range of EVs today and the availability of charging locations.
Read more about putting range anxiety fears to rest.
EV Battery Range in Cold Weather
EV batteries can lose range in cold weather. Estimates vary, but a report from Consumer Reports shows it can be significant. Most of the extra energy consumed is used to heat the cabin.
One way to help prevent range loss in the cold is to use heated seats and the heated steering wheel more than the heater. You can also pre-heat the car while it is plugged in.
The range of gasoline vehicles can decrease as well – fuel economy can decrease as much as 24% for short trips.
There is currently a race to increase battery range in cold weather.
Use the tips below and follow this guide for extending your battery range in cold weather.
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Conclusion
Electric vehicles have seen swift advancements, primarily due to the progress in lithium-ion battery technology, which now enables these cars to travel several hundred miles on a single charge.
This range significantly exceeds the requirements of most daily commutes, making eco-friendly travel with an EV highly convenient.
Now you have more info about maximizing your EV battery’s potential even further.
As technology progresses, the experience of driving an EV will keep getting better.
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