I’m new to electric cars and just got an EV6. I’m trying to figure out how to get the most range from each charge. For example, I turned on the heat and noticed I lost about 10 miles, so I used just the seat warmer instead. If anyone has tips or tricks, please share!
If you don’t need the full range every day or have home charging, I wouldn’t stress too much about it. Just enjoy your EV and plug it in each night.
Zyan said:
If you don’t need the full range every day or have home charging, I wouldn’t stress too much about it. Just enjoy your EV and plug it in each night.
Exactly this. The fun of having an EV is the convenience and comfort. Instant heat in the winter, warming your car while it’s plugged in, and waking up to a full battery every morning.
If you are trying to stretch your range, though, here are some ideas:
- Drive slower (stay under 70 mph, or even 55 if you’re desperate).
- Keep your tires properly inflated.
- Use seat and steering wheel heaters instead of the HVAC system when possible.
- Coast when you can, and avoid using iPedal as it keeps both motors engaged.
- Precondition your car while it’s charging so you don’t use battery power for heating or cooling.
That said, for your daily commute, just stay comfortable. Electricity is still much cheaper than gas in most places.
If you’re worried about range, use the seat warmer and heated steering wheel instead of heating the whole cabin. It’s a much more efficient way to stay warm in an EV.
Just enjoy the car. Drive it like you would any other car and plug it in when you need to. Don’t overthink the battery; it’ll take the joy out of owning an EV.
Here are some basic tips to improve range:
- Drive slower. Air resistance goes up a lot as you speed up, especially above 65 mph.
- Keep extra weight out of the car and avoid roof racks or anything that disrupts aerodynamics.
- Don’t tow anything unless necessary.
- Accelerate and brake gently to save energy.
- EVs tend to do better in stop-and-go city driving than on the highway.
I watched a video recently about cross-country EV driving, and it was impressive how even older EVs kept up. Drive safe out there!
@Tician
Just to clarify, adding 10 mph doesn’t multiply the drag by 100. It’s actually the square of the total speed. For example, if you’re driving at 55 mph and go up to 65 mph, the drag increases by about 40%, not 100 times.
@Monty
Thanks for breaking that down. I’m not great with physics, so I appreciate the correction.
@Tician
The idea that adding 10 mph leads to a hundred-fold increase in drag is wrong. At higher speeds, drag increases much more gradually. Going from 65 to 75 mph increases drag by about 33%.
Morgan said:
@Tician
The idea that adding 10 mph leads to a hundred-fold increase in drag is wrong. At higher speeds, drag increases much more gradually. Going from 65 to 75 mph increases drag by about 33%.
Thanks for explaining! I’m taking physics right now and, to be honest, it’s not my favorite subject.
@Tician
Physics is tough, but it’s really useful, especially if you’re interested in engineering or understanding how things work. Keep at it!
@Tician
Does using iPedal affect range much?
Micah said:
@Tician
Does using iPedal affect range much?
Avoid iPedal for the best efficiency. It keeps the car in all-wheel drive, which uses more energy. It’s fine for slow driving, but not ideal for regular or highway use.
Micah said:
@Tician
Does using iPedal affect range much?
iPedal is okay for mountain roads, but for general driving, Level 3 + AUTO is more efficient. Also, avoid running the AC fan above level 3; it can impact your range.
@Sage
Has anyone tested efficiency at different levels? Level 3 seems like it works against you by constantly regenerating power instead of maintaining momentum.
Miller said:
@Sage
Has anyone tested efficiency at different levels? Level 3 seems like it works against you by constantly regenerating power instead of maintaining momentum.
I’ve found that Level 3 is better for city driving with frequent stops. On long trips, you might see better results with less aggressive regeneration, but for me, it’s been more efficient in stop-and-go situations.
Adding 10 mph doesn’t increase drag by 100 times. It’s more like 33% at highway speeds. Energy use also increases, but not by that much.
@Ty
Can you explain a bit more about why you shouldn’t charge above 80% or let it drop below 20%? And how soon should you drive after charging?
Using heat or AC will lower your range, but some EVs don’t update the range estimate right away. I actually prefer when the estimate adjusts instantly because it’s more helpful. The best way to maximize range is to drive at moderate speeds, avoid hard acceleration, and use regenerative braking when you can. But really, just drive comfortably. City driving usually gives better range than highway speeds anyway.
I charge mine from 40% to 80% every five days, which takes about 12 hours on a Level 1 charger. Once every month or two, I let it go down to 15% and then charge it to 100% to recalibrate. I avoid fast charging unless I’m on a long trip.