If you’ve recently purchased an electric vehicle, you may be wondering how to improve its battery life. With advancements in technology, the range of electric vehicles has greatly improved, but on highways and during long distance drives, more energy is still consumed. While charging an electric vehicle is significantly cheaper than fueling a gasoline or diesel vehicle, optimizing the efficiency of an electric vehicle can lead to further cost savings.
Experts have shared six simple methods with ABC News to enhance the performance efficiency and reduce charging costs of electric vehicles.
One major advantage of electric vehicles is the ability to generate power through regenerative braking. When an electric vehicle decelerates, the energy generated during deceleration can be converted into electricity and stored back in the battery.
“When (the electric vehicle) is in deceleration mode, it actually acts as a generator,” Michael Day from the Australian Electric Vehicle Association told ABC News.
Drivers can choose to enable or disable this function, but newer electric vehicles typically have it enabled by default.
Another feature that can be utilized is the “one-pedal driving” function, where releasing the accelerator pedal results in automatic deceleration, reducing the need for frequent braking.
“You just need to lightly press and release the accelerator pedal,” said Bjorn Siem, Senior Policy Manager at the Electric Vehicle Council of Australia. “It may take some getting used to at first… but once you do, it feels great.”
Day mentioned that he mainly relies on releasing the accelerator pedal for deceleration, allowing the vehicle to slow down automatically, instead of continuously using the brakes, and only utilizing the brakes for emergency stops when necessary.
For new electric vehicle owners, the instant torque of electric vehicles is one of their significant advantages, just a press of the pedal and they’re off.
Similar to traditional gasoline-powered vehicles, avoiding rapid acceleration at traffic lights can significantly reduce battery consumption and maintain the electric vehicle’s range.
“Most electric vehicles… can accelerate very quickly,” Mr. Day said, “But… you don’t need to do that.”
Terry Martin, RACV Automotive Editor, mentioned that road conditions can also impact the range of electric vehicles. He resides in the South Gippsland area.
“Electric vehicles are more suited for stop-and-go city driving, where the vehicle can recover energy through regenerative braking,” he said. “When driving on highways, the efficiency of electric vehicles decreases, resulting in faster consumption of battery energy and a quicker decrease in range.”
However, experts suggest that utilizing cruise control, autonomous driving, and/or energy-saving modes can help avoid drastic changes during acceleration and subsequently reduce battery consumption.
If running low on battery during long drives and unsure if you’ll make it to the next charging station, Siem suggested that “slowing down is the best course of action.”
“Even dropping from 100 kilometers per hour to 90 kilometers makes a significant difference,” he said. “If you manage the remaining battery efficiently, reducing your speed to 70 kilometers per hour can greatly increase range.”
Turning off the air conditioning and other unnecessary accessories can also be beneficial, but Siem noted that vehicle speed remains the primary source of energy consumption.
Apart from speed, Siem mentioned that tire pressure could be a significant factor in electric vehicle energy consumption.
“If the tire pressure is significantly low, it will result in substantial resistance. Inefficient rolling consumes more energy,” he explained.
He recommended maintaining tire pressure at the level recommended by the manufacturer and conducting monthly checks.
Martin emphasized that avoiding excess weight and air resistance also contributes to efficiency.
“The more you carry, the more energy you use,” he said. “Make sure you’re not carrying unnecessary items.”
He added that anything increasing resistance, like roof racks, also consumes power.
Proper battery usage is another method to help maintain long-term battery life.
“Today’s batteries perform quite well, so as long as they are used reasonably… they can actually last a long time,” Mr. Day said.
He mentioned that most manufacturers recommend keeping the electric vehicle battery charge between 20% and 80%, unless you’re embarking on a long trip where a full charge is necessary.
“Using charging facilities at home or in shopping centers is a good and gentle way to charge,” he said. “Avoid letting the battery level drop too low or go too high, and if possible, refrain from charging too quickly.”
In order to reduce charging costs, Day recommended using solar energy for charging at home or opting for electricity plans that offer lower rates when charging.
“If you have a solar energy system, that’s the gold standard,” he said. “On clear days, I’m essentially always charging. I used to spend $3,000 a year on fuel. Now, my electric vehicle runs almost entirely on solar energy, costing me only $100.”