The switch to electric vehicles is well underway. However, one of the bottlenecks that can potentially delay the uptake is the lack of the necessary infrastructure to allow us to recharge our batteries with as much convenience as filling your car with gas.
This will arrive sooner than we may imagine; the momentum is already there. But there is still a necessity to maximize the use we get from our EV batteries.
Even where there are adequate charging stations and you aren’t expecting heavy use of your vehicle, this approach still makes sense. It can maximize the life of your battery, save energy, and cut costs.
This article lists some of the ways you can get the most out of your EV battery.
Why Getting the Most Out of Your EV Battery Is Important?
We touched on this in the intro, but before we look at how to get the most out of your EV battery, it is worth examining why this is important in a little more detail.
- Maximise range – By getting the most out of your battery, you can maximize the range your vehicle will run between charges.
- Extend the battery life – EV batteries have a limited lifespan. How long this equates to in real life is dependent on several factors. But one of the most critical factors is using best practices to optimize the use of your EV battery.
- Cost Savings – By maximizing battery performance and driving range, you can reduce the frequency of charging. This can result in savings from reduced electricity costs.
- Environmental Benefits – Basically, the less energy we use, the better it is for the environment. Maximizing your EV battery’s use reduces the need for recharging, leading to a lower carbon footprint.
Now we know why getting the most out of your EV battery is important, it is time to look at some of the ways you can make this happen.
Tips for Getting the Most Out of Your EV Battery
Getting the most out of your EV battery is not difficult, and in the long run, the benefits can be multifold. Here are our top tips for maximizing the use of your EV battery.
- Drive efficiently
Driving as efficiently as possible is one of the most important factors. The same rules that apply to getting the most out of a tank of gasoline can be applied here – Keeping the speed down, avoiding accelerating too quickly, and being generally gentle with the pedals all help to extend the range you get from each charge.
For reference, 60mph is the sweet spot where many EVs will get the maximum out of the battery. Go above this, and you could see your range counter drop dramatically.
- Utilise eco mode whenever possible
Many Evs have an eco mode feature. This can help to extend the range you get from each charge and increase the time between charges. Not all eco-modes use the same features to achieve battery savings, but typically they will include:
- Speed and acceleration constraints
- Restrictions to power-hungry systems like the AC or heater
- Display brightness
Using eco-mode whenever possible is a simple step that has a large bearing on maximizing the use of your EV battery.
- Use regenerative braking
Setting the EV’s regenerative braking to recover as much energy as possible will help to maximize your battery. Regenerative braking works by using the electric motor of the EV to act as a generator. This recovers the kinetic energy that is usually lost in the braking process and converts it to electrical energy.
Many models of EVs allow you to change the parameters of the system to minimize or maximize how much energy is recovered during the braking process. This could be as simple as “Low”, “Medium”, or “High” settings. However, more advanced models could have more customization options.
There is a balance to be struck here. Try to find a setting that recovers as much energy as possible but still suits your driving style.
- Avoid too much fast charging of your batteries
Fast charging an EV too often can potentially have negative effects on the battery’s health and longevity. While fast charging is a convenient way to recharge an EV quickly and extend its driving range, it can also generate more heat and put more stress on the battery than slow charging.
Lithium-ion batteries can degrade over time with repeated charging and discharging cycles. This degradation is more liable to happen in fast charge cycles where the stress placed in the batteries is more intense.
However, it should be emphasized that this doesn’t mean that you should never use fast charging on your EV batteries. Rather, try to restrict it to using it only when necessary. Aiming to achieve a balance between fast and slow charging will help to protect the integrity and longevity of your EV battery.
- Use reputable charging stations
If you are installing an Electric Car Charger for your home or business, then it is essential to opt for reputable manufacturers and installers.
It might seem like a saving to choose a cheaper option here, but EV batteries are expensive and cheap charging stations can quickly degrade the quality of your batteries. Importantly, in the worst cases, a poorly manufactured and installed charging station can be downright dangerous.
Here are some compelling reasons to install a quality EV charging station:
- Safety – As well as prolonging the life of your battery, quality charging stations keep you safe as well!
- Efficiency – The efficiency of an EV charging station can also impact the charging speed and energy consumption of the vehicle. Good quality charging stations are designed to provide high charging efficiency, which can reduce the time needed to charge the vehicle and minimize energy waste.
- Reliability – A good quality EV charging station is more likely to be reliable and free of technical issues or malfunctions. This is important for ensuring that the vehicle can be charged as needed, especially during long road trips or when relying on the vehicle for daily transportation.
Poor-quality charging stations are simply a false economy and can quickly degrade your EVs battery.
Time To Hit the Road
We hope these hints and tips will help you to get the most from your EV battery. As the switch to EVs continues to gather pace, good practices like these are going to help protect the environment, save you money, and contribute to a more circular economy.
But more importantly, it will help you to enjoy the benefits of your EV for years to come!
About the Author
Bob Sharp has been in love with cars all his life. Initially a petrolhead, he quickly switched alliances with the upsurge in the EV sector. He now acts as a consultant to businesses making the transition to electric fleets.
