July 28, 2023

How to Maximize Your EV Driving Range

5 Min. Read

As the popularity of electric vehicles continues to rise, EV owners need to maximize their driving range.

Regular maintenance, including tire inflation, battery care, and comprehensive system checks, ensures your EV operates at peak efficiency. Planning your route carefully and considering factors such as traffic conditions, elevation changes, and the availability of charging stations can help optimize your driving range. Additionally, regenerative braking technology allows you to recover energy typically lost during braking, increasing your EV’s efficiency.

By implementing these strategies, you can enhance your EV’s driving range, enjoy extended trips, and contribute to a greener and more sustainable future.

Regularly Maintain Your EV

It’s crucial to keep your EV well-maintained to maximize its driving range. Regular EV maintenance helps ensure that all vehicle components are functioning optimally. Schedule regular check-ups with a qualified technician to identify and resolve potential issues impacting your EV’s efficiency.

While your EV will not require all of the same maintenance as an internal combustion engine, there will still be a need for maintenance and inspection to ensure all components are functioning appropriately.

Tire Maintenance

Proper tire inflation is especially crucial for EVs, as underinflated tires increase rolling resistance, negatively impacting your driving range. Keep a close eye on your tire pressure and inflate them to the manufacturer’s recommended levels.

Battery and System Maintenance

Maintaining the battery is another critical aspect of maximizing your EV’s driving range. Keep the battery within the recommended range, avoiding overcharging and deep discharge. Additionally, follow the manufacturer’s guidelines for battery maintenance to ensure its longevity and performance.

Regularly checking and maintaining all systems of your EV, such as brakes, cooling systems, and HVAC, will help prevent any issues that might negatively affect your driving range.

Charging Equipment Maintenance

Ensuring that your charging equipment is in good working maximizes your driving range and boosts charging efficiency over time. You should regularly inspect the charging cables, plugs, and connectors for any signs of wear or damage. Clean the connectors to maintain a good electrical connection.

Moreover, follow the manufacturer’s instructions for maintaining your charging equipment and work with a licensed electrician to perform seasonal maintenance for all charging components.

It’s worth mentioning that while Level 3/DCFC charging provides faster charging times, frequent use of this charging method can lead to battery degradation over time. Therefore, use Level 3 charging sparingly and prioritize Level 2 charging for daily use.

Plan Your Route Carefully

Before embarking on a trip, take some time to plan your route strategically. Consider traffic conditions, elevation changes, and the charging station location. By optimizing your course, you can minimize energy consumption and maximize your driving range.

Determining Traffic Conditions

Traffic conditions significantly impact your driving range, especially in stop-and-go situations. Avoid congested routes and plan your travel during off-peak hours whenever possible. Adjust your driving habits; smooth, consistent driving will help conserve energy and extend your range.

Monitor Elevation Changes

Elevation changes can significantly affect your EV’s energy consumption, so plan your route to avoid steep inclines or opt for roads with gradual slopes if possible. Utilize your vehicle’s regenerative braking system to recover energy while descending hills, maximizing your driving range.

Weather conditions will also impact your driving range and charging times, so keep in mind that your range can change alongside any climate changes in the area you are travelling.

Note Charging Station Locations

Additionally, be mindful of the location of charging stations along your route. Numerous smartphone apps and online platforms can help you locate charging stations along your desired route. Plan your stops strategically, ensuring that charging infrastructure is available when needed, and make use of attractions and accommodations that offer overnight Level 2 charging stations.

Starting with a full charge can help you make the most of your time and your travel. While Level 1 chargers are often insufficient, only providing 2-5 miles of range per hour, having a Level 2 charger at home will allow you to charge overnight and have a full charge in 4-10 hours. Working with a licensed electrician will help ensure your EV charger is safely installed, saving you time and the potential for costly damages and repairs.

Use Regenerative Braking

One of the unique features of electric vehicles is regenerative braking. When you engage regenerative brakes, the electric motor seamlessly transforms into a powerful generator, harnessing the vehicle’s kinetic energy and converting it into valuable electrical energy, effectively maximizing efficiency and reducing reliance on external charging sources. Your vehicle’s battery stores this energy for later use.

Regenerative braking effectively extends your EV’s driving range by capturing and storing energy for future use instead of dissipating energy as heat during traditional braking. This feature helps to recharge the battery and reduce the reliance on external charging sources.

To make the most of regenerative braking, familiarize yourself with your vehicle’s regen settings. Some EVs offer different levels of regenerative braking, allowing you to adjust the intensity of energy recovery. Experiment with these settings to find the balance that suits your driving style and maximizes your range.

Getting the Most Out of Your EV Driving Range

As the popularity of electric vehicles continues to grow, maximizing the driving range of these vehicles has become a primary concern for many EV owners. Although the range of EVs has improved significantly in recent years, weather, driving habits, and road conditions can still impact your EV’s performance. You will want to drive efficiently and plan wisely to maximize your EV driving range, ensuring longer trips and a more efficient driving experience. An incredible EV experience starts with home charging, but finding a reliable electrician with the right experience to install these newer technologies can be challenging.

As the most trusted provider for EV charging station installations and other electrification services in North America, Qmerit can help. Our network of vetted, certified electrical contractors will work with you to design a safe, high-quality EV charging solution that meets your needs for years to come. How you charge your EV can transform your electric driving experience and Qmerit makes it easy.

If you’re an EV owner looking to maximize the driving range of your vehicle, try incorporating some of these tips and tricks into your routine. Enjoy longer trips and an efficient driving experience by following these simple steps, and contact Qmerit today for your at-home charging solutions.