This is a sponsored article from our partners at ERANGE EV.
All new electric vehicles receive a range estimate, just like gas vehicles see EPA-estimated fuel consumption ratings. However, much like their gas-powered counterparts, there are a number of factors that impact the distance an EV can travel on one charge. If you own an electric vehicle and are seeing a shorter range than you expect, there are a few things you can do to immediately improve the situation, and most of them won’t cost you anything more than a few minutes and a little extra care from behind the wheel. Here are some of the things you can do to improve your EV range overnight.
Lighten Your Lead Foot
One of the most effective ways to improve EV range is to alter your driving style. Many EVs offer strong torque off the line, making them wildly entertaining, but putting your foot down out of every red light or stop sign is a good way to drain the range. Just like gas cars burn more fuel under hard acceleration, EVs often see a significantly reduced driving range when the driver puts their foot down. Aggressive driving also impacts brake wear and can stress suspension and other components. Regenerative braking helps avoid some of that brake wear, but it’s not suitable for use in all stopping situations.
We’re not telling you to creep around at walking speeds. Instead, try to accelerate and brake smoothly, avoiding jerky starts and stops. It’s also a good idea to drive as close to the speed limit as possible on the highway, as EVs already miss their best range targets at higher speeds. Cruise control can help remedy some of the highway-speed range issues, as it maintains a constant speed and lets the driver avoid riding the accelerator pedal while cruising.
Route Planning is Key
It might be challenging to plan a long road trip that avoids highways and high-traffic areas, but shorter trips are easier to map. Select a route that allows you to travel at lower speeds, and some mapping apps let the user avoid steep inclines and traffic. You likely won’t be able to avoid all hassles on the road, but choosing the route that offers the fewest interruptions will allow you to extract the maximum range from your EV.
Carefully Manage Climate Settings and Other Features
While you might not think much about using the heat, defrost, or heated seats in the winter, those features use electricity, which can drain the range faster. The same is true for air conditioning and other tech features. It’s never a good idea to make yourself uncomfortable while driving, but lowering the intensity of the heat or air conditioning can make a tangible difference in the distance you can travel on one charge. If you can manage it, turn off the heated or ventilated seats and open any sunshades in the car to warm the cabin as much as possible without using electricity.
Take Care of Your Battery
Electric vehicles can be fully charged to 100 percent, but it’s not always recommended. Most manufacturers suggest limiting the maximum state of charge (SoC) to around 80 percent on a regular basis, especially if you only plan on short commutes and regular driving. Regular charging to the maximum level can reduce battery capacity over time, leading to a shorter range and more charging.
It's also important to pay attention to any battery preconditioning features your vehicle has. Many new EVs have systems that warm the battery to the ideal charging temperature, allowing it to charge faster and more efficiently. However, preconditioning systems don’t operate automatically in most cases, so you’ll need to understand how to activate the function before heading to a charger.
Tires Matter
EV-specific tires are designed with low rolling resistance (friction), which helps maintain the vehicle’s efficiency and range. They also feature a stiffer sidewall and special tread patterns that maximize EV range and cut noise. At the same time, it’s important to make sure your tires are properly inflated. Sailun Erange tires offer those benefits with the added upsides of a long tread life and great performance.
Under- or overinflated tires don’t provide the best performance, as their contact patch (where the rubber touches the road) may be compromised. You may also notice a drop in EV range with tires that don’t roll as intended.
Range anxiety is becoming less of an issue as EVs gain more range and faster charging times, but it’s still important to focus on the details if you want to get the absolute best out of your electric vehicle. A few small changes in how you drive and behave behind the wheel can have an outsized impact on the distances you can drive between charges, but you don’t have to go overboard to see a benefit.
If you want to learn more about how Sailun’s ERange tires can make a difference for your EV, please visit erangetires.com.
