Electric vehicle range: what determines it and how to increase it

The actual range of an electric vehicle may differ from that declared by the manufacturer by 5 or even 150 km. This applies to all models: even electric vehicles with a long range have similar performance. For example, the Tesla Model X 100D should be able to travel 565 km on a single charge, but in real life, it gets 395-404 km. And the Nissan Leaf 100% should be able to travel 285 km on a single charge, but in fact it can only go about 220-235 km. These figures may vary depending on the time of year, when driving on hilly terrain, high speed, using air conditioning or heating, and other factors.

Here's what affects the range of an electric vehicle and how to minimise the impact of these factors.

Slow start

One of the distinctive features of an electric vehicle is the maximum torque that is available from the moment the engine is switched on (at zero revs). For example, the Tesla Model S P85D accelerates to 100 km/h in 3.5 seconds, and the Nissan Leaf reaches 100 km/h in 9.7 seconds. But the energy consumption at such a start is simply insane (80 kWh). To save battery power, you need to start smoothly and gradually pick up speed.

Travelling speed in the range of 90-95 km/h

It is the cruising speed that manufacturers focus on when calculating the range of a battery. It is the most economical of all and helps to reduce energy consumption by 14%. Some electric vehicles are equipped to drive at this speed Eco mode. And the most uneconomical for the battery is the "Sport" mode, which is only needed for fast driving on motorways.

Regenerative braking

Energy recovery is one of the most important functions of electric vehicles. It can return up to 70% of the kinetic energy used for braking back to the battery. This energy can then be used to increase the vehicle's speed. In addition, regenerative motion helps to reduce brake pad wear.

The regeneration system is particularly effective in urban areas where the braking distance is long, or when driving on hilly terrain, when you need to slow down when descending another hill.

Proper cooling and heating of the cabin

The heater and air conditioning are the main energy consumers. To save energy, in winter, you should warm up the car in advance, and during the trip, turn on the heating not of the entire cabin, but of a specific part of it: the steering wheel or seat. In summer, do not leave the car in the open sun and open the windows instead of the air conditioner - when accelerating, this affects the aerodynamics of the car and increases energy consumption, but it is still more economical than switching on the air conditioner.

Save battery power by climate control - is an electronic controller that automatically measures the temperature and humidity of the air and sets the desired temperature in the cabin according to these indicators. When charging the battery in some electric vehicles, you can choose how best to charge it: up to 100% with or without climate control.

Cruise control

This is a device that automatically maintains the speed set by the driver and adjusts it if necessary: it adds throttle when the car is moving slower and reduces throttle when it is picking up speed (for example, when going down a hill). - Set the cruise control to 90-92 km/h, you can relax and not hold the throttle in one position.

Cruise Control with Lane Keeping Assist helps to save battery power by maintaining the same speed and avoiding energy consumption on different road sections.

Optimum tyre pressure

If the air pressure in the tyres is too low, this reduces the range of the electric vehicle and causes them to wear out faster. The pressure should be set according to the recommendations of a particular car manufacturer. For example, for Tesla, it is 2.9 bar, and for Nissan Leaf, it is 2.5 bar.

Empty boot and no external accessories on the body

Every 45 kg of additional weight inside or outside the electric vehicle increases energy consumption by 1-2%. Therefore, the lighter the car is, the less energy is required to move it. You can easily see this: when the trunk is full and all passenger seats are occupied, energy consumption increases. If the journey is going to be long, it is better to empty the trunk as much as possible and remove external accessories (roof racks, cargo platforms, etc.).

No long downtime

When a car is parked in a garage for a long time, the battery starts to discharge itself. If you charge the battery just before you leave, you will save a few extra kilometres. The same applies to long-term parking.

The best route for long journeys

Try to avoid highways where the speed exceeds 100-110 km/h. It is better if it is a road where you can drive at a low speed and not have to adjust to numerous road users.

For long journeys, you need to mark a map of all the charging stations along the route in advance and call the complexes to clarify whether all the stations are working.

It's simple!

At first glance, it might seem: "How complicated is everything with these electric vehicles!" In fact, the same story is true for cars with internal combustion engines. Drivers come up with their own life hacks to consume fuel as slowly as possible and plan where they will charge during a long journey. The main difference is that electric vehicles do not yet have such a well-developed network of charging stations, and drivers need to think their way through more carefully.