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how-to-maximise-the-range-of-an-electric-car

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Tesla is a US brand&nbsp;that revolutionised&nbsp;the car industry, putting <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/best-electric-cars-2022/n17000">electric cars</a> in the limelight&nbsp;for the first time – helped by the personality and profile of boss Elon Musk.

Today, Tesla has a broader&nbsp;line-up than ever, with the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/tesla/model-3/saloon/review/n19010">Tesla Model 3</a> saloon&nbsp;and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/tesla/model-y/hatchback/review/n23624">Tesla Model Y</a> SUV the company's cheapest models. For those with bigger budgets or a need for more space, there's the larger <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/tesla/model-s/hatchback/review/n150">Tesla Model S</a> saloon and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/tesla/model-x/hatchback/review/n161">Tesla&nbsp;Model X</a> SUV.&nbsp;A&nbsp;new Roadster, complete with supercar-beating acceleration, is also in the works.

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TESLA

MODEL 3

In many respects, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/best-electric-cars-2022/n17000">electric cars</a> are quite&nbsp;different from petrol and diesel-powered models. However, there is one area in which&nbsp;they're very similar,&nbsp;and that’s related to efficiency.

You see, no matter how your car is powered, maximising efficiency is the best way of making it cheaper to run – whether that’s with more miles per gallon, or miles per kilowatt hour.

So, with the cost of living on the rise, we’ve devised a list of the best ways to maximise the range of an electric car.&nbsp;

Each step should not only help you save money at the charging station&nbsp;but also get you where you need to go with&nbsp;fewer charging stops.&nbsp;

The best ways to maximise the range of your electric car

Most new electric cars come with multiple driving modes to help maximise or minimise performance. For example, the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/genesis/gv60/estate/review/n24373">Genesis GV60</a> comes with three modes:&nbsp;Comfort, Eco and Sport.

In Eco mode, the car’s accelerator response is numbed to allow for smoother, less punchy acceleration, and in some cars it also deactivates or limits the functionality of the climate control. Both of&nbsp;these factors help to reduce the car’s energy consumption&nbsp;and therefore improve range.

Use Eco mode

Another feature that you get with electric cars is regenerative braking, which captures energy that would normally be lost when you lift off the accelerator and feeds it into the battery. The side effect is that the car slows more dramatically than&nbsp;you would otherwise expect.

In some&nbsp;new electric cars, you can adjust the strength of the regenerative braking&nbsp;via paddles behind&nbsp;the steering wheel. For example, in the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/hyundai/ioniq-5/hatchback/review/n22944">Hyundai Ioniq 5</a>, you have five settings: 0 (which switches the system off), 1, 2, 3&nbsp;and a maximum ‘i-Pedal’ setting. The latter&nbsp;is so strong that you hardly need to touch the brake pedal at all.

Maximise your regenerative braking settings

With petrol or diesel cars, having your tyres pumped up to the correct pressure can help maximise efficiency. The same goes for electric cars, because if the tyres are not pumped up properly, this&nbsp;can increase the&nbsp;rolling resistance. For maximum efficiency, check your car’s manual to see the recommended tyre pressures.

Check your tyre pressues

Almost all systems in your car, including the infotainment and climate control, use electric power from the battery. So, in the case of the climate control, minimising its&nbsp;use will help limit the amount of power taken from the car’s battery.

If you do&nbsp;need to maximise your range and feel the chill on a cold morning, switching your heated seat on can be a more efficient way of warming up.

Minimise use of air conditioning and climate controls

Do you ever get frustrated by how your phone's battery degrades as it gets older? Well, the same thing happens in electric cars, albeit more slowly.&nbsp;

Fortunately, there are ways to minimise the degradation, and one of them is to keep the battery charge between 20 and 80%. You see, heat is the enemy of batteries, and the first and last 20% of charging can be the most energy intensive. So, if the battery is getting hot regularly,&nbsp;the cells can become damaged over time, reducing your car's&nbsp;maximum&nbsp;range.

Look after your battery

Some electric cars are fitted with heat pumps that help to reduce the air-con's impact on range by providing an efficient way of regulating interior temperature. Heat pumps are capable of moving heat from the ambient air to the car's interior heater, and they can recycle excess heat from the high-voltage&nbsp;battery.&nbsp;

During our <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/range-test-how-far-can-electric-cars-go-in-winter/n24274">real-world winter range test</a>, we tested cars with and without heat pumps and found that cars with regular resistance interior heaters fell short of their official ranges by an average of&nbsp;33.6%, compared with 25.4% for cars with heat pumps. In addition, the cars with heat pumps were more efficient, averaging 3.2 miles/kWh, compared with 2.9 miles/kWh for those without.

Not all electric cars come with heat pumps, though, so it's worth checking if a car has one. In some cases, they're&nbsp;available as an&nbsp;option.

Buy a car with a heat pump

One of the fun elements of electric cars is the instant torque that they offer, and it can be addictive at times. However, sudden and regular bursts of power can significantly impact your range, so it’s worth adopting a smoother driving style if you wish to go farther on a charge.

Drive smoothly

Many electric cars these days have designs that are heavily influenced by aerodynamics, and this is so they can slip through the air with as little drag as possible. However, no matter how slippery your car is, the higher the speed you travel, the more energy is required to push it&nbsp;through the air.

Watch your speed

Speaking of drag, you can help your car slip through the air more easily by closing all the windows and removing roof racks when they're not in use.

Reduce drag

Planning your journey beforehand and choosing the most direct route possible is another simple way to improve range. Also, checking the traffic before setting off&nbsp;can be beneficial.

Plan your journey

The more weight that you have in your&nbsp;car (whether that’s people, luggage or general clutter), the more inefficient it&nbsp;becomes. So, if you find that you frequently carry around items that you don’t actually use or need, removing them can help&nbsp;improve your range.

Remove unnecessary weight

The specification of your car can make a big difference to range. For example, bigger wheels increase weight and rolling resistance, while sportier, stickier tyres can also have a negative&nbsp;impact on the latter. So, one way of limiting resistance&nbsp;can be choosing a car with smaller wheels&nbsp;or tyres with a more efficiency-focused design.

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For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? newsletter&nbsp;<a href="https://pages.haymarket.com/whatcar/wcar-form.html">here</a>

<h2><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/best-electric-cars-2022/n17000">Read more: The best and worst electric cars 2022 &gt;&gt;</a></h2>

Spec it right

How to maximise the range of an electric car

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Sufficient range between charges to fit in with most people’s lifestyles – and in the real world, not on some far-fetched official test </li> <li>Quick charging times and compatibility with the most ubiquitous types of public charging points </li> <li>Priced to be within the grasp of more than just the privileged few </li> <li>As with any car, ride comfort, practicality and ownership costs can’t be ignored</li></ul>

We define an electric car as one that runs purely on battery power and has no tailpipe to puff out nasty chemicals.

The best of the breed offer sufficient range between charges to fit in with most people’s lifestyles – and in the real world, not on some far-fetched official test cycle.

Electric

With the cost of charging at record levels, here are our top tips to help you maximise the range of your electric car and save yourself some money

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