Top tips to help extend your EV's driving range

Wednesday 19th April 2023

Electric vehicles are becoming increasingly popular and are taking the industry by storm. With that comes the advancements to EV batteries, charging points accessibility and driving ranges. So whether you are considering switching to an electric vehicle or looking for ways to maximise and extend its driving range, take a look at our top tips.

Don’t speed

Whilst also avoiding a speeding ticket, keeping your speed to under 60mph where possible can also boost your battery range. Som EVs have an ‘Eco mode’ which is recommended with gentle acceleration, whilst the ‘Sport mode’ is encouraged to be switched off.

Drive smoother

A smoother drive allows for you to make the most out of your EVs regenerative braking which can bolster your battery by allowing you to conserve momentum. Driving smoother and slower can help you anticipate traffic ahead to avoid hard braking and fast acceleration, both of which are not only unsafe but also not energy efficient.

Lighter travel

For any vehicle, travelling light will reduce the vehicles weight overall and can maximise your cars efficiency. This is no exception when it comes to and EV. So, it’s worth considering how much load you carry when driving.

Avoid overdoing the heat

Running the heater in an electric vehicle is the quickest way to drain its battery power. We recommend keeping the heat of where possible and rely on heated seats and a heated steering wheel if your car is equipped with one as they use less energy. If you are planning to take a longer journey during the colder months, try pre-heating your EV whilst it is plugged in to charge.

Avoid overusing the AC

As mentioned with using the heater, the same applies to overusing the AC. A suitable alternative would be driving with the windows down where possible, or pre-cooling the car in the warmer months when the vehicle is charging. This will reduce the need to run the AC when driving.

Check your tyres

As with other vehicles, driving your EV on under-inflated tyres will greatly impact energy consumption and can damage your tyres overall. We recommend getting into the habit of checking and testing your tyres regularly to ensure they are inflated to the correct level. This can be found noted on the inside frame of driver’s door.

Looking to service your hybrid vehicle? Simply locate your nearest Formula One Autocentres or contact our specialist team to find out more.