How To Extend The Range on Your EV

Electric vehicles (EVs) are becoming increasingly popular, but there's still one big drawback that stops many people from making the switch: range anxiety. After all, no one wants to be stranded on the side of the road with a dead battery.

The good news is that there are several ways you can extend the range of your EV and make it a more reliable vehicle for everyday use. Read on to find out how you can boost your EV's range.
 

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Use Regenerative Braking

Regenerative braking systems are a feature on many EVs. It means that the car has a mechanism to capture the heat and friction energy created by when the brake pads slow the vehicle.

That kinetic energy is converted into electricity, which is used to charge the battery.  Most plug-in hybrids use the same system.

Some cars offer different levels of regenerative braking that make it easier to capture this energy. B-mode, e-Pedal and RBS are all just different names for the same thing.

Regenerative braking works as a way to extend the range on your EV because the more you use it, the less you will have to rely on your battery.

To make the most of this feature, plan your trips so that you're spending more time slowing down than accelerating.

Plan Your Route

Planing ahead makes a big difference to how many miles of range you can get from your electric motor.

Check the location of charging stations along your route, and choose the most efficient route to your destination. Apps like Zap-Map, Chargemap, and Plugshare are great tools for finding charging locations and planning your route. 

If you're taking a long trip, make sure to factor in time for charging - as the time it takes to charge your EV will vary depending on the model of the car, and the charging facilities. 
 

 

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Drive Smoothly

Driving smoothly is the simplest way to extend the range of your EV. You can save energy simply accelerating gradually and avoiding sudden stops and starts. 

In fact, if you drive aggressively, you can reduce your range by up to 30 percent! So, remember, it's better to drive gently than like a racecar driver if you want to get the most out of your battery. 

We know it's tempting, but accelerating super fast (like with Tesla's "Ludicrous" mode) ruins range.

Optimal Charge Level

To extend the life of your battery and keep it healthy, it's generally advised to only charge your EV to about 80 percent.

Charging the battery to 100 percent all the time can reduce the overall life span of the battery. So, if you're not driving far, it's best to only charge your battery to 80 percent and then top it up later when you need to.

Most modern EV's have an 'EV optimal charging' setting that allows you to choose how much to charge the battery up to. If you're looking to compare different EV Chargers to install at home, here's a guide that compares a few of the best models.
 

 

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Climate Control

Another way to extend the range of your EV is to limit how much use full-vehicle climate control. 

Many electric vehicles today come with seat heaters and heated steering wheels as either standard, or an optional upgrade.

If you're traveling alone, rather than warming the whole car, use the seat heaters and heated steering wheel. This will use a lot less energy than heating the entire car and, in turn, extend the range of your battery.

Tyre and Wheel Choice

Your tyres and wheels can also have an impact on your EV's range. 

Low-rolling resistance tyres and lightweight wheels can improve your vehicle's range by reducing the amount of energy needed to move the car. 

If you're looking to extend the range of your EV, consider upgrading your tyres and wheels.
 

 

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Use a Range Extender

If you're really concerned about range anxiety or often drive long distances, you can add an EV range extender to your car. 

A range extender is a small gas engine that generates electricity and extends the range of your battery. 

Some of the most popular electric cars, such as the BMW i3, come with range extenders as an optional add-on, making them a great choice for long-range trips. EV's with extenders usually cost more than those without.

Swap out for a car with a longer range

Sometimes the best way to extend the range of your EV, is simply to swap for another EV. 

Because there are new electric cars being released all the time, the car with the best EV mileage is changing all the time.

If you want to be able to easily switch to the latest model in a cost effective and planet friendly way, then you might want to look into a monthly car subscription.

Companies like Onto make it easy to start and stop a monthly rolling contract, which makes trying out different models and always driving the longest range electric cars super easy.



We hope some of these tips help you get more mileage out of your EV! Wherever you're traveling to, if you need either short or long term parking in the UK then we've probably got something for you.
 

Find parking

 

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