If you drive an electric car, keep these 5 things in mind, the range will increase from the next day!
The electric car market is currently on its boom. Apart from being eco-friendly, it is also cheap to run and requires less maintenance. However, the biggest concern for most EV owners is range. The range claimed by the company is often less in the real world. Especially in summer, traffic or on the highway, this number goes down considerably.
By changing some small habits, you can see an increase of 20 to 40% in the range of your electric car. If you are the owner of Tata Nexon EV, MG ZS EV, Punch EV or any electric car, then we have brought 5 important tips for you to increase the range of the vehicle. These measures will not only increase your daily range, but will also ensure long life of the battery. To reduce range anxiety, you can adopt these 5 golden tips.
1. Adopt smooth and eco-driving style
This is the biggest factor. Avoid sudden acceleration, sharp braking and high speed (more than 100 km/h). Accelerate the car slowly and anticipate before applying the brakes. Keep regenerative braking (Regen) at medium or high level, especially in the city where there is a lot of stop-go. Due to this, energy goes back to the battery during braking. Smooth driving can increase the range by 15-25%. Keep the speed between 60-80 km/h, avoid overspeeding even on the highway.
2. Reduce unnecessary weight and accessories
The more weight the car has, the more battery it will consume. Do not keep extra luggage, roof carriers or unnecessary items in the boot. Every 50-100 kg of extra weight can reduce the range by 5-10%. Always check tire pressure, low pressure increases rolling resistance and reduces range. Inflate the tire as per the PSI recommended by the manufacturer. With correct tire pressure and less weight the range can easily increase by 10-15%.
3. Use AC smartly
AC consumes the most battery, especially in summers. Set the AC to 24-25°C and do not make the cabin too cold. Use the pre-conditioning feature. Park the car in the shade in summer, so that the cabin does not get too hot. Without AC the range can be 20-30% more. In winter, the heater also consumes energy in the same way, so use it as per need.
4. Avoid fast charging
Frequent fast charging (DC) heats the battery and can reduce range in the long run. Slow AC charging (7-11 kW) is better for daily use. Do not charge the battery to 100%, especially if not a long drive. Maintaining a 20-80% charge level maintains good battery health and provides better real-world range. Avoid overcharging and keep the car in the shade during charging.
5. Take care of proper tire and vehicle maintenance
Install EV-specific low-rolling resistance tyres. Old or worn tires reduce range. Get regular servicing done, get software updates, as updates often improve battery management and efficiency. Plan your drive according to the weather. In winter the range may reduce by 20-30%, so if you warm the battery beforehand, the range will be better. If you keep these 5 things in mind, not only will the range of your electric car increase, but the battery life will also be longer.
