How to help extend the driving range of your electric vehicle
‘Electric car range’ might sound like the number of electric vehicle (EV) options you have at a car dealership, but it actually refers to the distance you can drive your EV on a single charge until you need to re-charge.
The driving range of an EV is important because, at the moment, it’s generally easy to find a service station if you need to top up a car with fuel – but EV charging stations aren’t as common yet. If you’re an EV driver, out and about and your battery charge is getting low, you’ll have to plan your next move carefully.
Worrying about the distance you can travel is something that many EV drivers (and potential EV drivers) experience, it has a name. It’s known as ‘range anxiety’ and it can be a barrier for people who are considering buying an EV.
Electric motors could take you further than you might think
Knowing how to help maximise or extend your EV range can help you to avoid range anxiety and make the most of your EV. First, let’s look at some stats from the Electric Vehicle Council:
- Currently, EVs have an average battery range of 480km.
- The average Australian driver travels 38km each day.
- This means EV drivers in Australia could drive the same daily distance as the average Australian driver for 10 days without requiring a recharge.
- The tech behind EVs is developing at such a fast rate that newer EV models can drive for almost 550km on a single charge.
The factors which can impact the driving range of an EV include the make and model, the age and condition of the battery and EV, as well as driving conditions such as weather, terrain and driving speed.
Here are some tips to help you better understand your EV and some simple things you can consider to help extend the driving range of your EV.
EV range extender tip #1: Know how your EV works
The more you learn about electric motors, how your EV works and how your battery charges, the more you can understand what actions you can take to help maximise your driving range.
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For battery electric vehicles (BEVs):
Unlike vehicles with an internal combustion engine (ICE), BEVs have electric motors powered by a large traction battery pack. Instead of stopping at a petrol station to fill up your car at the bowser, you need to charge your EV battery using a wall outlet or specific EV charging equipment, known as electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE). -
For plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs):
These combine a battery-powered electric motor with an ICE which runs off fuel. PHEV batteries can be charged using a wall outlet, but they also come with the added feature of collecting charge through the combustion engine and a process known as regenerative braking. Most PHEVs are powered by electric motors with the ICE kicking in only once the battery is drained, during rapid acceleration or when intense heating or cooling air conditioning is on.
A growing number of Australians are becoming EV drivers – but, for now, most drivers are still in petrol-fuelled cars. As you may know, ICE vehicles have more fuel efficiency at higher speeds but are less fuel efficient in the stop-start traffic of a typical commute.
Did you know? Your EV works in the opposite way to an ICE vehicle in terms of driving range. You’ll generally use less power from the battery with speeds under 70km/h and drain your battery faster at high speeds.
This makes EVs a good option for commuting and driving in cities with plenty of stopping and starting. With an EV, taking the freeway or highways might not actually be the most energy-efficient route. The fastest route provided by your navigation app could also be the fastest way to use up your battery charge, so plan your route with maximising your driving range in mind.
EV range extender tip #2: Plan your charging times
If you’re taking off for a longer road trip, plan your journey with stops to charge your EV along the way. This could help you to avoid range anxiety by working out in advance how far you can travel between charging and where your next stop is. Download one of the many EV charging apps, such as Plugshare, to help plan your trip. Many of these apps can help you locate the EV charging stations along your route and top-up when convenient.
Just as you plan what to pack for a weekend away, you can plan your EV charge in advance too. The day before a long trip, consider changing the charging settings in your EV to reach 100%. Once you’re on the road, charging to 80% each time you stop could help you to save time, as the final 20% capacity of the battery generally charges at a much slower rate.#
When you’re home, try to avoid keeping your EV plugged into its charger when it is sitting in the garage. Some EV batteries will slowly self-discharge when they’ve finished charging, as holding a 100% charge for long periods can contribute to battery degradation.
Planning your charging time could also help you to take advantage of time of use electricity plans, such as Synergy EV Add On^, with different electricity rates at different times of the day in order to save on your electricity costs.*
EV range extender tip #3: Know your EV driving modes
Get to know the modes available with your EV, as these could help you to extend your EV driving range.
Most EVs come with a variety of modes to choose from, along the lines of Normal, Sport and Range (or ‘Eco’). Normal will be the usual default setting, while Sport mode might use more of the throttle, make all the power available and sometimes weight the steering. An Eco or Range mode will often dial back the power being drawn from the battery for maximum efficiency – so your air-con and throttle power might be restricted. Play around with the settings to find a balance between being efficient with your battery and enjoying your drive.
EV range extender tip #4: Consider your driving habits
If you are trying to maximise your EV's driving range, go easy on the accelerator. The instant torque of an EV can feel exhilarating, but it comes at a price.
Around half of the energy powering your EV goes into acceleration, so putting more power into your pedal and accelerating fast uses more energy. Unlike internal combustion-engine cars, EVs have less battery energy efficiency at high speeds, as speed puts more stress on electric motors.
When it’s appropriate, letting your EV slowly come to a stop, rather than braking suddenly, can also help maximise your driving range. If your EV has regenerative braking, take the time to learn about your EV’s brake regeneration system and figure out when it’s useful and convenient to deploy it.
Overall, aim for a safe and smooth driving experience, with less acceleration and deceleration, to help maximise your driving range.
EV range extender tip #5: Use your air-con efficiently
Pre-conditioning is available on a lot of EV models, and could be worth doing in winter. Basically, if you know what time you’re setting off, you may be able to use an app to switch your EV on and heat up your interior while you’re connected to mains electricity, rather than using charge from your battery once you’re on the road.
An EV doesn’t produce the same amount of excess heat energy as a car with a petrol or diesel engine (which usually runs the heating). With an EV, any energy used to warm up the car comes straight out of the battery, which means your air-con use can impact your driving range.
You might even decide to skip the air-con altogether and instead use heated seats and steering wheel, if your EV has them. This way, you’ll be heating only your space, rather than the whole car.
EV range extender tip #6: Check the weather report
Extreme temperatures can have a big impact on your EV and, in turn, your driving range. The ideal temperature for EV batteries is generally around 20C°. Hotter or cooler temperatures can cause your EV to use more energy to regulate the temperature, which equates to energy drawn from your battery.
Here in WA, we don’t need to worry too much about freezing, icy and snowy conditions., but it’s worth keeping in mind how you choose to heat your car up in winter, as mentioned in the previous tip.
On hot days, try to manage your EV’s temperature without using the air-con as much as possible to help extend your driving range. Using your air-con to cool your car will use up more of your battery power, so it’s important to keep an eye on your battery charge when your air-con is running.
Did you know? Your EV may drain its battery faster trying to regulate its temperature in hot weather, so it’s worth trying to find a shady parking spot instead of leaving your EV in the sun all day.
EV range extender tip #7: Look after your electric vehicle
Just like any other car, an electric car needs to be well maintained to run efficiently. This means regular servicing, keeping the tyres in good condition and making sure that all the fluids are topped up.
To get the most driving range from your EV, choose good quality tyres and have them inflated to the recommended pressure. The optimal tyre pressure for your EV model and your driving needs can make a big difference to how much battery charge your EV will draw on to get you where you’re going.
The less you have to carry, the more you could extend your driving range because your EV doesn’t have to work as hard. It might be a pain to clear out your boot to reduce the weight of your EV or take the bike holders or roof rack off when you don’t need them to make your car more aerodynamic – but it could make a difference to your driving range. Cleaning and waxing your EV could even make a slight impact on reducing drag too. Let your EV shine!
Don’t let range anxiety hold you back from making the switch to an EV as you may be able to save money on fuel and maintenance costs in the long run. The technology in EVs is constantly evolving which is likely to improve the average EV driving range and more public charging stations are being built, so range anxiety could soon become a thing of the past.
Now that you are armed with all the tips you need to help you extend the driving range of your EV, you might like to explore how you could help maximise your EV’s battery lifespan.
# EV charging best practice is to not let your battery drain to below 20% and only charge up to 80% rather than full. Draining an EV battery empty or charging to 100% regularly can put strain on the battery and can cause degradation.
^ Synergy EV Add On is subject to eligibility criteria, see the Synergy EV Add on Eligibility Criteria for details. The Synergy Standard Electricity Agreement Terms and Conditions apply to the Synergy EV Add On product.
* The electricity charges during the Super Off Peak, Off Peak and Overnight time periods on Synergy EV Add on are lower than the electricity charge for the Synergy Home Plan (A1) (the regulated residential tariff). The electricity charge during the Peak time period on Synergy EV Add On is however higher than the electricity charge for the Synergy Home Plan (A1) (the regulated residential tariff). Ensure you do your own due diligence when deciding whether changing to Synergy EV Add On would work for your unique circumstances.
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