Drop your speed from 60 mph to 50 mph where you can, move seamlessly with the traffic, and realise that the fastest route isn’t always the quickest.
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These top five tips could help electric vehicle drivers really make the most of their car’s range.
The hints come from manufacturer Kia - purveyor of EV’s like the highly-desirable EV6 and the affordable Niro EV - after it teamed-up with an automotive training organisation called ‘Motiv8’.
Kia reckons that by following a few simple rules, you can actually improve your EV’s range by as much as 33 per cent.
That’s not to be sniffed at in the cold winter months, when low temperatures cause the chemical reactions in an EV’s battery to slow down, which makes it tougher for an EV to hit its maximum range mark.
And, of course, making your EV more efficient will also save you money - up to £500 over the course of a year, according to Kia.
Kia began the exercise by polling 1,200 drivers in the UK to identify ‘key concerns related to the cost-of-living crisis’.
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The survey found that 52 per cent of EV owners wished ‘they were more aware of ways they could adapt their driving style to minimise expenditure’.
Kia handed the stats to Motiv8, and then placed a handful of test pilots in a Kia Niro EV.
They first asked the experiment subjects to drive a pre-selected route in their usual style.
Then, after some efficiency training from the Motiv8 experts, the test drivers then completed the same route again.
And the result? An average improvement of 33 per cent greater electric range across all participants, according to Kia.
David Taylor, Director at Motiv8 International, said: “This is Kia’s gift to EV drivers this festive season – easy techniques that anyone can apply to save money, as well as reduce demand on the national grid. With the average driver travelling 311 miles to visit friends and family, now is the perfect time to follow Kia’s tips and start saving.”
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Here are those tips in full:
- Go easy with the right foot – The instant torque of an EV is exhilarating, but it comes at a price. Up to 50% of the energy powering a car goes into acceleration, so aggressive driving uses more energy
- Lighten the load – Take the roof box off if you’re not using it and unload any unnecessary clutter (but don’t forget the presents!)
- Momentum – Careful route planning to avoid jams will keep you moving. Sometimes the fastest way is not the most efficient way
- Anticipate - Anticipating the traffic situation ahead will keep the car moving at a steady pace and use less energy than heavy slowing and acceleration
- Go slow, and wham on the radio! – Cutting your speed from 60 mph to 50 mph can improve efficiency by up to 15%
In case you need further convincing that an EV is the way forward in 2023, check out our Select Car Leasing ‘fuel cost calculator’.
It’s a nifty tool that can work out the cost of fuelling a petrol or diesel car, compared with running an electric vehicle, based on current electricity prices and your own unique circumstances.
Here at Select we’ve found that if you drive 10,000 miles annually, you could save £926 per year - and that’s when you charge an EV at home on the default Energy Price Guarantee tariff.
Don’t believe us? Try it out for yourself here.
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