With the arrival of spring, the desire to travel slowly awakens, and with the growing network of charging stations and the increasing range of vehicles, longer routes by electric car have become possible. However, unlike a carefree stop at a gas station, an electric adventure requires a little more thought and preparation. The fear of an empty battery is a thing of the past if you approach the trip strategically.
Smart route planning
The first step of any successful journey by electric car is detailed route planning. Although the navigation in your vehicle will offer a basic plan, for complete peace of mind it is recommended to use specialized applications. The A Better Routeplanner (ABRP) application has become the gold standard because it includes not only the distance in the calculation, but also the model of your vehicle, terrain elevation, weather conditions and even the predicted driving speed.
On the other hand, PlugShare is an indispensable tool for checking the condition in the field. It functions as a social network for electric vehicle drivers where users leave reviews, photos and, most importantly, information about whether a particular charger works. Before you head to the ABRP-recommended charging station, a quick check on PlugShare can save you from any nasty surprises.
A key charging strategy on longer trips revolves around the “10 to 80 percent” rule. Namely, DC fast chargers are most efficient precisely in this range of battery charge. After 80 percent, the charging speed drops dramatically to protect the battery’s health, meaning you’ll be waiting almost as long for the last 20 percent of capacity as you did for the previous seventy. Therefore, it is often faster to make two short stops and charge the battery to 70 or 80 percent, than one long one and wait until the top. With each planned stop, always identify at least one backup filling station within a 30-kilometer radius, in case the first option is taken or out of service.
Optimizing reach for spring conditions
Spring is almost the ideal season for driving an electric car. Temperatures around 20°C allow the battery to operate at maximum efficiency, often reaching and exceeding the factory-declared range. However, cool mornings can temporarily reduce range by 10 to 20 percent. This is where preconditioning comes into play. Before leaving, while the car is still connected to the home charger, turn on the heating or cooling of the cabin via the app. In this way, you draw the energy to achieve the ideal temperature from the grid, and not from the battery, saving precious kilowatt hours for the drive itself.
Driving style also plays a big role. Aggressive acceleration and sudden braking consume significantly more energy. Using cruise control to maintain a steady speed and reduce highway speed by as little as 10 kilometers per hour can significantly increase autonomy. Don’t forget about aerodynamics either – roof racks or boxes that you don’t use create significant air resistance and at speeds above 100 km/h can reduce range by more than 20 percent. Remove them before the trip if you don’t need them.
Technical preparation and equipment for the trip
Before setting off on your journey, it is essential to carry out a few technical checks. The most important are tire pressure. Lower pressure increases rolling resistance and directly reduces reach, so adjust it according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. Spring is also the time to switch to summer tires, which are more efficient at higher temperatures. Don’t forget to check the fluid level, primarily battery coolant and windshield washer fluid. After winter, it is advisable to wash the chassis thoroughly to remove salt residues that can cause corrosion.
For a carefree trip, it is important to have the right equipment. Always carry your portable charger for a regular outlet, as well as a Type 2 cord for public AC chargers. Digital preparation is just as important: install the apps of the main charging station operators on your route (eg Ionity, Tesla) and enter payment information in advance. Download offline maps in your navigation app for areas with weaker signal. Additionally, pack a portable tire compressor, a cell phone powerbank, and just in case, a physical RFID charging card as a backup if the app fails.