Introduction
Just as people once used map books in order to get from A to B, planning before driving today is still a wise move, especially in an electric vehicle.
Depending on the car, most electric vehicles have a single-charge range of around 200 miles. But, if you intend on travelling cross country you might have to plan out your charging stops.
Planning a trip in an EV can be challenging, particularly for individuals who are unfamiliar with them. We hope that this guide will help you navigate the best approaches to travelling long distances in your EV.
Good News! The UK has one of the most extensive rapid charging networks in Europe. The number of public charge points has increased significantly from 7,211 in 2017 to over 31,000 in the UK now . Therefore, it should be simple for you to effectively plan a route where charging is available whenever it is required. Most modern EVs also have a route planner built into their sat nav system. So when you enter your destination, the car should be able to recommend a charging stop and the estimated battery percentage on arrival. However, not all inbuilt systems are as reliable as third party apps. Here are some recommended apps that will make this process easier for you.
Zap-Map
Zap-Map app allows you to plan your travels, locate the closest charging stations, and pay for charging all from one convenient location. It is accessible on both Apple IOS and Android and was also named “Best Electric Car App” in 2022 Driving Electric Awards. Its extensive database lists over 25,000 charging stations and more than 47,000 connectors.
Review: ‘I found this app extremely useful as a way of checking chargers on my route and near my destination before setting off’.
Plugshare
No matter where you are or where you’re travelling too, plugshare will have all the information you need in regard to charging your car during your journey. The plugshare app, like Zap-Map, can be used to find EV charging stations along your route and determine whether they are compatible with your car. You can also filter the results to just view certain types of chargers including fast chargers.
Review: ‘This is my go-to app for charging locations, I like its community and ability to upload comments and updates.’
WattsUp
WattsUp is best known for route planning and finding the closest charging stations. When signing up for the app, you can list your precise charging requirements, so you won’t be shown any charging stations that don’t have chargers suitable for your car. This way you can just concentrate on the journey rather than having to spend time determining whether the charging alternatives are compatible or not.
Reviews: ‘This app is unique compared to all the other apps. It shows the quickest route and then what charging sites are available along it. Easily the best out there.’
Pod Point
Pod Point is free and incredibly simple to use. They have a network of more than 3000 public charging stations across the nation. Using Google Maps, you may determine which charging stations are nearby and whether they are open. Additionally, you can view the charging tariff’s cost. More than two-thirds of the charging stations on the Pod Point network can be used for free, with only 30% requiring payment through the top-up and pay-as-you-go app.
Reviews: ‘I’ve been using the Podpoint app since May 2022. It accurately records the dates, times, and kWh of each charge I do at home using my Solo Smart Charger’.
Top tips to increase your range whilst driving an EV.
Here are some more tips and tricks that will help you maximise the efficiency of your EV.
More than any other feature of your car, your driving style will determine the range that you get from your EV. Sudden acceleration and braking reduces the range of an EV significantly. An EV can provide optimal range when driving at a consistent speed of 60-70 mph. This does not mean that you should avoid using motorways. However, when driving on motorways, you should aim to maintain a consistent speed and prevent sudden braking and unnecessary speeding.
Preconditioning your car’s temperature
Have you ever been so cold that you feel you can’t move your fingers? Well, it’s the same for EV batteries. When the temperature decreases car windows can become icy and door handles may even freeze. The severe winter weather can also affect the battery of your car. The process of preconditioning heats the cabin of your car and improves battery charge.
Preconditioning your vehicle while it is charging will ensure that all it needs to do while you are driving is maintaining its temperature. Therefore, preserving battery on those longer journeys carried out over the winter period.
Top tip: The ideal temperature of your EV batteries should be 50ºF. While anything above 32ºF is fine, the optimal range is between 46ºF and 50ºF.
Heated Seats
Another tip that will help with battery preservation is to use the vehicle’s heated seats instead of the cabin heater. In doing so, you will use less energy since electric vehicles don’t receive free waste heat from the engine and therefore save battery.
Regenerative Braking
In addition to saving energy, regenerative braking systems in electric vehicles also don’t release harmful airborne particles, unlike conventional friction brakes.
Instead of friction braking, you can utilise regenerative braking in order to save more battery. Regenerative braking is a special technology used in electric vehicles to recover kinetic energy (the energy the car possesses because it is moving). If friction braking was used this energy would be lost as it slows down or stops when braking. However, regenerative braking allows for energy and therefore battery life to be saved.
Check your tires
This might sound like an obvious thing but, it is always a good idea to check your tire pressure before setting off on a journey. Low tire pressure can have a significant impact on the range of any car.
To sum it up, long journeys in an EV are achievable with a bit of upfront planning. In fact, Whatcar conducted an experiment in which they were able to travel 14 countries across Europe in 24 hours in an electric Porsche Taycan. Quick charging stops coupled with a sedate driving style will make your next long journey stress free!
