How to get the most from your EV?

So you’ve carefully chosen your first electric car and it’s either on its way or just arrived. Here’s a few tips to get the most from your new electric vehicle (EV).

Get connected

Almost every electric car available today can be connected to an app from the car maker. Usually it’s a case of downloading the correct app, a few simple registration details and you’re good to go. While you may have experienced apps for petrol or diesel cars, with EVs there’s usually some really useful added functionality.

For the majority of cars, you can see how much range you’ve got before you even step out of your front door.

For some you can also set a recharging schedule. This is useful when you’re home charging and have an off-peak electricity tariff. Using the app, you can set the car to only charge when the cost of electricity is lower – for example overnight, or during peak hours, where you may receive a reward for switching off power supplies.

You may also be able to set a departure time. Doing this means the car will typically pre-heat the cabin and pre-condition the battery to be pre-warmed or cooled (if your EV has this function) and if you do it while connected to a charge point, you won’t reduce your range. This function enables you to achieve the best range and in winter, means you won’t need to defrost your car, while in summer you can cool it down to suit your needs.

Maximise your range

In short, the best way to maximise your electric car’s range is, without being too glib, to drive efficiently – as you would in any other car. However, there are a few additional tips. Most electric cars will have different levels at which the vehicle regenerates electricity when the car slows or brakes.

Some EVs even have paddles which will slow the car, or ‘eco’ settings which will increase what is often referred to as regenerative braking. This means that when you lift off the accelerator or press the paddle shifter, higher levels of regenerative braking will slow the car more and capture more of the braking energy to recharge the battery. And therefore, increase your range.

Some EVs have regenerative braking or paddles that will bring the car to a complete stop – so that, with careful planning, you can drive using just the accelerator pedal and paddles; press to go, lift to stop. This technology can take some getting used to so it’s worth testing out in a safe, low traffic area.

Read our ‘Five tips for driving more efficiently in an electric car’ for more.

Charge ready

We’ve already mentioned, pre-conditioning your car’s battery is possible through the connected app. However, many electric cars will also pre-condition the battery to accept the fastest charge when you arrive at a public charging point. This is useful when you’re on the road and need to charge quickly. To do this you’ll usually need to set the car’s satellite navigation. This will then link with the car’s computer brain and be ready when you arrive.

Speedy charging

Several factors govern how fast your car will charge including the car’s ability to accept electricity and a charge point’s ability to deliver electricity.

However, in order to get the best charging speed when you’re using the public network, arrive with a lower charge, typically around or below 20%, and top up to around 80%. Charging tends to slow significantly from 80% to 100%, so factoring in two shorter stops on a journey can enable faster charging within the 20-80% range bracket.

Read our guide ‘Everything you need to know about public charge points’.

Protecting your battery

The other advantage of charging to 80% is that, in the long run, this will extend your battery’s life. Constantly topping up to 100% is not always advised. However, car manufacturers warranty batteries just like the rest of their cars and these warranties will stipulate a minimum battery capacity regardless of the way they’re charged.

If you’re looking to keep your car’s battery in the best condition, it is generally possible to set the maximum charge level in the car’s setting or through the connected app.

Choosing