Tips for New EV Drivers

Electric cars are becoming more commonplace, and it’s likely you’ll drive one soon. With that in mind, you can benefit from these tips for new EV drivers.

Enough people use electric vehicles today, and advice is available to inform you of what you should and shouldn’t do when driving an electric vehicle. You’ll want to know how to get the most out of a fully charged battery and what you should do when it’s time to charge your ride for the next few miles. Let’s cover these aspects of driving an EV to give you an idea of what you’ll experience.

How Can You Maximize the Efficiency of Your Electric Vehicle?

Which EV is Right for You?

Are you replacing a truck with an electric model, or do you want an EV that works great for your daily commute? Will you need to take your kids with you regularly, or is this vehicle one that’s only for you? Do you want a sporty model or something that’s more practical? Before you can figure out how efficient your EV will be, you need to know which vehicle is the right one for you to drive. More models are hitting the market every model year, making it easier than ever to find the right one.

Driving Range is a Significant Factor

When you’re one of the new EV drivers, you suddenly realize that you have to pay attention to the driving range. Even though gas-powered vehicles can run out of fuel, it only takes a few minutes to refill them. Electric cars offer faster charging than ever, but the fast charging times only bring the vehicle to a percentage of a full EV charge. Additionally, charging stations aren’t located on every corner like gas stations are.

Exterior Temperatures Impact the Driving Range of an EV

If you want your electric car to be at its most efficient, you should drive it when the temperatures are mild, and the roads are dry. Unfortunately, you don’t control the weather. If you must drive in extreme heat or cold, you’ll want to be prepared for a reduction in the driving range of your EV. This is an important consideration, especially if you have a destination that will challenge the maximum distance your car can drive on a full battery.

Your EV Has an App to Help You Get the Most Out of It

Nearly every electric vehicle now comes with an app to help you track the driving range of your car and the locations of EV chargers. It won’t take long for you to get used to this feature of your vehicle. You’ll feel more connected with your new electric car than you ever did with your older traditional model.

Charging Your Electric Vehicle is Different from Filling with Gas

Get Used to the Various Connections

Gas pumps only offer one type of handle to put fuel in the tank and refill your gas or diesel-powered vehicle. Electric vehicles have various connectors that charge at different speeds. Not only will you need to understand the connections, but you also want to know how fast each of these will charge your vehicle. Most modern EVs require at least a Type 2 connection to be efficient enough to charge your EV in only a few hours.

Where is the Best Place to Charge?

You’ll hear it often, but as one of the new EV drivers, you’ll quickly learn that charging your car at home is the best thing you can do. You only pay for the electricity to charge your vehicle once a month when you get your bill. Charging at home allows your car to reach a full battery overnight, allowing you to enjoy the entire range every day. When compared to charging at public stations, you’ll soon realize that home charging is much more affordable.

Where Are the Public Charging Stations?

Some EV drivers don’t have a garage or place to set up a 240-volt home charger. If this applies to you, it’s you’ll need to know where all of the public chargers are in your area. This also means you may never have a full battery. The only way you’ll reach a full battery is if you spend hours at the public charger while it fills your car. Consider what percentage the public charger will reach and how far you can drive if you have to rely on public charging.

Your Charging Routine Becomes Part of Your Lifestyle

Unlike refilling a gas or diesel vehicle, you’ll need to plan your charging times to fit into your life. It only takes a few minutes to put gas in a vehicle, but recharging can take longer in an EV. As one of the new EV drivers, you’ll want to plan your charging times and make sure you have enough driving range to go where you want before you plug in and refill the batteries.

Road Trips Require a Lot More Planning

When you drive an electric vehicle on road trips, you’ll need to plan the routes based on where the nearest public chargers are located. Some EV charging locations have failed to work, which means you need to know how far you can go and where the chargers are that you can stop at during your time on the road. It’s a good idea to plan a primary stop to charge and a secondary one if that charger isn’t working. This can become a challenging part of taking a road trip in an EV.

Ask Other EV Owners for Advice

The EV community is growing, and many drivers are willing to pass on their experiences to help new EV drivers. Reach out to this community online and learn more about the challenges of charging and driving range before you buy your first electric vehicle. Other drivers can guide you and help you understand what you’ll need to plan for before you charge the car and head out for a drive for the first time.

Are you ready to be one of the new EV drivers on the road? Charging, driving range, and efficiency are all important factors in driving safely and confidently wherever you need to go. Learn all you can about EV driving before you buy one of these electric cars.