MAXIMISE EVERY MILE

Whether you’re planning a longer journey or just want to get the most from your electric vehicle, there are smart ways to make your battery go further. From driving style to climate settings, even small changes can have a big impact on range. This guide shares our top tips — tried and tested by Europcar’s own EV drivers — to help you drive smarter and more efficiently, without compromising on comfort or convenience.

TOP TIPS FOR BOOSTING RANGE

It pays to plan ahead

Before you head off on a long journey, plan your route and pick out a few charging points along the way (Zapmap is your friend).

Break with braking tradition

Reduce your charging by taking full advantage of regenerative braking to refill the battery and preserve your available driving range.

Consider pre-conditioning

Temperature can greatly impact range, so make sure you get the battery and interior conditioned to the optimal temperature before you leave the house (this is called pre-conditioning). This can usually be started and controlled via a handy smartphone app.

The heat is off

Heating is the biggest drain on the electric motor, so focus on keeping yourself feeling toasty (rather than the whole car) by using functions like heated seats and heated steering wheels.

Switch off unnecessary battery drainers

The more electrical features and gadgets you use, the more electricity you’ll eat up. Common sense really, so get into the habit of only using what you really need – especially on longer trips.

Keep your speed in check

For most EVs, the speeding sweet spot for efficiency is around 50-60mph, so whenever possible try and stay within this speed bracket. Using the ‘avoid motorways’ option on supporting smartphone apps is a great trick to use.

Keep your tyres inflated

Under-inflated tyres create more resistance and make the battery work harder, so keep them inflated to the correct pressure.

Change things up

Take full advantage of the EV’s ‘change mode’ and adjust the setting to suit both your driving style and to actively restrict energy-sapping modes like air-con and heating.

Maintenance is key

Like any vehicle, the more love you show an EV the less likely something will go wrong. Which means regular servicing, tyre checks and fluid top ups are all essential if you want to maximise range.

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