You’ve decided to purchase an electric car. Congratulations! You’re part of a very small but growing community of electric vehicle owners in this country. Electric vehicles are becoming a common sight nowadays. In addition to being environmentally friendly, they come with other benefits that make them popular. Here are tips that can help you enjoy the perks of owning an electric car for longer.
Understand the settings
Electric vehicles can operate in different modes, each affecting performance and power usage. For example, the Tesla Model S can travel from zero to sixty miles per hour in 2.5 seconds in Ludicrous Mode, which sacrifices efficiency while improving speed. Be knowledgeable about all of your car’s functions to make smart decisions concerning your battery range.
Plan your trip
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, over 18,000 public charging stations are currently located across the country. It is still important to plan out driving trips in advance and know how far your car can go until its next charge.
Charge it at home
Plugging in your vehicle at night in your garage gives you the most convenient place to recharge, but the Level 1 cord set plugged into a 120-volt outlet will take several hours to completely recharge your battery. This means that after a long drive, you could end up waiting all day for your battery to charge again. Investing in a 240-volt outlet and a Level 2 charger can allow you to fully recharge five times faster.
Follow public etiquette
Always give your fellow EV drivers access to charging stations. It’s only polite to move your car so others can charge when you’re done.
Clear the trunk
It’s important to keep your EV weighed down as little as possible while driving. Each item you take out of the trunk will increase the range of your EV by an estimated 5 miles.
Be mindful of battery life
During the colder months, you should be aware that your battery won’t function as efficiently as in the summer months. You also use more energy to heat your car’s interior than when it’s warm. To reduce these issues, you might want to precondition the battery before driving by allowing it to sit for a few hours in a place where it won’t freeze. You can also choose to drive in Eco Mode, which allows your vehicle to adjust its speed and shift patterns for energy efficiency.