Hi everyone,
I’ve been driving ICE cars for many years, but I recently switched to an EV (Kia Niro EV). Any tips for someone new to EV driving? I’m also looking for some good websites to check out.
Most EVs like those from Hyundai/Kia are built to be efficient when used like a normal car. Tesla requires the one-pedal mode because they cheaped out on the hardware. Other than making sure you don’t run out of charge, there’s not much else you need to worry about.
One piece of advice: find out how regen works and choose the setting that feels right for you. The car offers several regen levels. The higher the level, the more it slows down when you lift off the accelerator. However, all levels provide the same amount of regen, they just affect how quickly you slow down. There’s also an ‘auto-regen’ mode that adjusts the regen level based on what’s ahead. For example, if you’re approaching slower cars, the regen level will increase automatically to help slow you down.
@Dani
After months of trying to figure out my preferred regen level, I finally just left it on Auto and let the car’s system work its magic .
Sam said:
@Dani
After months of trying to figure out my preferred regen level, I finally just left it on Auto and let the car’s system work its magic!
It’s nice, right? Such a relaxing drive when it adjusts automatically.
@Dani
Does auto regen work the same way on the Niro as it does on other Kia Hyundai EVs? I tried it when I first got my Niro, but it didn’t seem to work well and actually scared me at times. It would take too long to react and increase regen. I might try it again, though.
@Macon
The auto regen on my Niro works great. I have it set to level 1, and if there are no cars in front of me, it only slows down a little—just the way I like it for winding country roads. But when approaching traffic, it increases the regen level automatically, and you can see it on the dashboard. Just double-check that you’re not confusing it with the cruise control assist, which I’ve found tends to only engage regen at the last second.
@Dani
Thanks, this does sound like the auto regen setting. One thing I noticed is that when I’m at a stoplight for a while, the car doesn’t adjust regen automatically to move forward. Is that how it works, or is there a trick to it?
Here’s what I’ve learned switching from a Honda Accord:
- If you drive under 40 miles a day, Level 1 charging (residential wall outlet) is fine. But if you drive more, you’ll need a 240v outlet. Don’t let electricians charge you too much, it shouldn’t cost more than $1300 to install. Your breaker doesn’t usually need upgrading if it’s over 100amps.
- Cold weather and heating can eat into your range. If you turn on the heater (especially with the cold weather package), expect up to 30% range loss.
- On road trips, expect around 220-230 miles of range realistically. Avoid paying over 50 cents per kWh at DCFC stations. ChargePoint, Electrify America, and EVGO will be your go-to networks.
- Going over 70MPH will use up 20% of your range. 60-65 MPH is ideal, 75-80 MPH really eats into the battery.
- Alignments, tire balance, and rotations are important for good range and overall vehicle health.
@Vick
I agree that cold weather affects range, but not by as much as you might think. I drove 330 km (205 miles) in 10°C (50°F) weather yesterday with the heat on, and it only used 4% more of the battery. It’s a bit worse than using AC in summer, but not as bad as you might expect. For your road trips, make sure to set fast chargers as waypoints so the car can preheat the battery. This reduces charging times significantly.
@Mal
Thanks for the tip. Is there a way to set fast chargers as waypoints in the car’s system?
@Vick
The 70MPH thing is true, but it really matters if you’re on a long drive. Some EV owners get too caught up in efficiency and drive too slow, which can be dangerous when you’re mixing with trucks on the highway. I prefer to drive faster, especially since electricity is cheap.
This video really helped me understand how battery charging works: ‘Your Battery Questions Answered’ with Dr. Jeff Dahn, Professor Emeritus at Dalhousie University.
@Vail
Thanks for the video! What type of battery does the Niro EV use?