How to drive an electric car efficiently
Switching to an electric vehicle can help you save money on fuel costs, but learning how to drive efficiently can increase those savings further
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How do I maximise my electric car mile range?
Just like filling up at a petrol station, it costs money to charge your EV (unless you track down a free charging point).
By maximising your EV’s mile range, you can ensure you get the most miles out of one charge, saving you money over time.
Driving efficiently is undoubtedly one of the best ways to get the most bang for your buck, regardless of the rising electricity costs, so here are our top tips to help you achieve this.
What is the most economical way to drive an electric car?
There are a few ways to adapt your driving to make it as efficient as possible.
This ranges from adjusting your climate control use, driving smoothly and de-cluttering your car.
All these minor changes can prove to make a big difference to ensure you maximise your range.
1) Cool it on the climate control
Being heavy-handed on the heating functions in your EV can cost you some of that all-important charge.
As EVs run on one big battery, using the heating or air-conditioning can use power that could otherwise be used to power the car.
Therefore, being a bit careful with how often you use your climate control can preserve power.
Top tip – some EVs can be controlled from your smartphone, so you can set your car to preheat while it’s still plugged into your charger.
If you charge at home, you might be able to turn on the heating function a few minutes before you’re due to leave so you’re not using that precious battery power when on the go.
2) Drive smoothly for the most efficient journey
We know that EVs are nippy things and are fun to fly off the line, but choosing a smoother drive is better for preserving power.
Fast driving means you’ll be faster to burn through your mile range, so stick to the speed limit to use less power.
Lots of EVs have an ‘eco mode’ that offers gentler acceleration, so it’s ideal to choose this setting if you want to ensure a really efficient drive.
3) Max out your regenerative braking
Regenerative braking is an electric-only motoring feature that allows your car to recharge as it brakes.
When you begin to slow down in your EV, the electric motor will capture energy to put back into the battery that can be used to power your car.
Most EVs will have different modes that allow you to decide what level of regenerative braking you’d like to use, including the highly efficient ‘one-pedal driving’ that allows you to come to a stop in your EV without even touching the brakes. This allows for the most amount of regenerative braking.
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4) Keep on top of maintenance
A well-maintained car is an efficient one – keep on top of servicing and repairs to make sure your EV is performing at its best.
Checking your tyre pressure regularly is an easy way to make sure you’re giving your EV the best chance to perform economically, so check your car’s manual to find out the optimum pressure level.
You’ll find that different driving conditions will probably need different tyre pressures, so monitor this closely to get the most efficient drive.
5) Travel light for an economical drive
Sometimes it really is necessary to pack everything but the kitchen sink into your electric car, but that does mean you’ll probably burn through your energy reserves quicker.
A heavier load requires more power to move, so taking off extras like roof racks and roof boxes can make for a lighter, more efficient drive.
Is it cheaper to run an EV? Running costs of electric cars
Electric cars are fairly new on the market, so they are usually more expensive to initially buy – especially if you want to fit a charging point at home.
In the long run, however, EVs are usually cheaper to run than fuel-powered vehicles.
The electricity used to charge your EV is usually cheaper than petrol or diesel, and you might even be able to plug in while you’re out shopping and charge your EV for free. The maintenance costs for an EV are usually lower as well, as they have fewer oily engine parts that can go wrong.