5 Easy Ways to Get More Range from Your EV

Modern electric cars have come a long way since range concerns were a real concern. These days, EV makers have to clear an EPA certified range of at least 300 miles to be taken seriously. Sorry, Fiat 500e. Some EVs even boast a range close to 500 miles. However, on a long road trip or if you plan to go through the EV charging desert, it may make sense to try some strategies to get more mileage out of your EV battery. Beyond the usual ways to get more mileage out of cars in general, here are five ways to keep your EV going longer between charges.

Instead of wasting all of the kinetic energy generated by braking like conventional internal combustion engine vehicles, hybrids and EVs can capture all of that potentially lost energy and convert it into electricity that powers its battery. Each EV manufacturer has their own way of doing regenerative braking, but the general idea is that the electric motors that propel the EV forward can also act as a generator that captures the electricity produced from deceleration.

In situations where emergency braking is not required, regenerative braking will intervene causing a small burst of battery charging and bumps in the EV range. It’s hard to say how much extra mileage you’ll get as a result, but the US Department of Energy says renewable braking results in 22 percent more energy savings for EVs in combined city and highway driving.

Unlike older gasoline-powered vehicles that use a compressor to power the air conditioner, an EV will rely on its battery to pump cold air into the cabin. That means EVs use the same power source that provides both airflow and range.

Instead, you may want to prioritize your EV while it’s still connected to the outlet. This way, all the heavy lifting of getting your cabin up to the right temperature will be pulled from the power outlet and not the EV battery. Yes, you’ll still rely on the battery to keep you cool while driving, but it won’t have to work as hard to get you down to the right temperatures. Alternatively, you can use basic techniques such as using sun shades, ventilating the air by rolling down the windows, or choosing ventilated seats instead of turning on the AC.

On the other side of the thermometer, extreme cold weather conditions can affect your EV range. In winter, cold temperatures can slow down the chemical reactions in your EV’s power-generating battery. According to the Department of Energy, freezing temperatures can affect an EV by 32 percent.

Consumer Reports conducted real-world tests showing that cold weather as low as 16 degrees can reduce EV range by about 25 percent when driving at 70 mph, compared to driving in the same conditions but on a mid-60 degree day. Just like using the AC on a summer day, driving in a cold climate can cost you some mileage by needing to pump heat into the cabin, too.

Although aerodynamics affects all cars and how well they drive, they are the biggest factor that affects how EVs measure up to their range. Less drag means more range, which is why many EV makers brag about their low drag numbers, like the Lucid Air and its 0.197.

Considering that, it is important to remove any accessories from your EV that could affect its aerodynamics, including roof racks, roof racks, tonneau covers or crossbars. For more range, you can try to keep your trunk clean because any extra weight will reduce the efficiency of your EV.

As much as all EV drivers want to show off their fast acceleration, it’s best not to have the lead foot when it comes to increasing range. When you floor the accelerator, your EV has to burn a significant amount of energy to reach that burst of speed. When you add up that ineffective acceleration at every intersection, you could end up spending more time charging your EV in the long run.

To get more mileage out of your EV, you’d better ride on cruise control or go into EV mode. In addition, the faster you go, the more air resistance you present. In the tests conducted by Car and Driverdriving at 55 mph and 75 mph resulted in more than 100 miles being lost with the Kia EV9.