You drive an electric car and are still looking for valuable tips and tricks? Then you've come to the right place! Fill up at home, drive quietly and odor-free with renewable energies - the list of the Advantages of electric cars is long. But once the decision has been made in favor of an e-car, drivers can do countless other things, for example, to increase the range or extend the battery life, to drive in an energy-saving manner or to benefit from advantages for environmentally friendly vehicles.
In this article, I would like to give you the most important tips and tricks for efficient use of your electric car and make you fit for the e-car. Let's go!
Here you can find a short overview in advance:
- Adapt the battery to the usage behavior
- Reduce all energy guzzlers
- Heat and cool your electric car on the grid
- Drive as energy-efficiently as possible
- Learn how to charge your electric car
- Use the braking energy
- Adjust your usage behavior in winter
- Avoid completely full and empty load states
- Inform yourself before a trip abroad
- Take advantage of the financial benefits of electromobility
1. adapt the battery to the usage behavior
When purchasing your electric car, it's important to make sure that the battery is only as big as you need it to be for everyday use of the vehicle. After all, the bigger it is, the heavier it is. And pushing more weight simply requires more energy. A higher energy requirement in turn pollutes the environment and costs you a lot of money unnecessarily.
Tip: Also make sure that it is possible to precondition the battery of the e-car. This way, you can speed up the charging process immensely and save the battery.
2. reduce all energy guzzlers
A really important tip for all electric car owners is also to eliminate energy killers in the car. You can extend the range of your e-car, for example, by paying for a higher Tire pressure so that the rolling resistance is as low as possible. To sustainable driving naturally also includes the anticipatory driving and smooth acceleration. Also avoid too many bells and whistles in the back seat and trunk. the less unnecessary weight, the better!
3. heat and cool your electric car on the grid
Around the interior to cool down in hot temperatures or to heat up on cold days your e-car needs a lot of energy - and that costs range! Therefore, you should temper the interior if possible when your vehicle is connected to the power grid. If you are on the road, you can also use the Circulating air mode use, which consumes much less energy.
4. drive as energy-efficiently as possible
You've already received a few tips on how to drive your e-car in an energy-saving manner. But the list is much longer. Most manufacturers also integrate a Eco mode in their vehicles, which switches to sailing or recuperation mode and automatically minimizes the amount of energy needed for heating and the like when appropriate.
Also, don't drive too fast and drive steadily to conserve your battery. Rapid acceleration has the opposite effect. Ideally, you accelerate slowly and take advantage of coasting when you reduce speed. Also take advantage of the One-Pedal Drivingswhich allows your electric car to be both accelerated and actively braked with just one pedal.
Tip: If you're going to drive electric cars in the future, you can also use the slipstream of larger trucks to squeeze a few more miles out of your battery.
5. learn how to charge your electric car
If you have the opportunity, you should get your electric car charge at home in the garage with (self-produced) green electricity at your own wallbox. As a rule, the electricity is also cheaper than the "juice" from public charging stations. But even when you're on the road, you can occasionally take advantage of free charging options (e.g., in the parking lots of larger companies and hotels). Be sure to use the relevant apps to find charging stations and parking spaces.
Eighth during the loading process Make absolutely sure that the plug is firmly seated in the connection and lift it and the cable slightly if a connection is not established immediately. In the event of problems, it often helps to lock the electric car once and then unlock it again. Switch it on and off, just like a computer 😉.
6. use the braking energy
Many electric cars are able to recover energy during the braking process by means of so-called recuperation. In this process Kinetic energy converted into electrical energythat keeps your car moving forward for longer. Use these technical possibilities of the engine brake (decelerates automatically when you let off the gas) in your car, for example, when driving downhill and generally by driving with foresight.
7. adjust your usage behavior in winter
Prepare yourself and your car for the colder temperatures. For example, you can increase the range of your car by in the well-tempered garage. Through the use of the Charge control you can charge and preheat the battery, which in turn saves energy.
More energy-efficient is also the use of the Seat heating instead of the interior heating - but deliberately only heat the seats on which someone is actually sitting. As you can see, there are countless possibilities and tips for using your electric car in the most environmentally friendly and sensible way possible.
8. avoid completely full and empty load states
Make sure that a battery is never charged to 100 percent and discharged to 0 percent, if possible, or not for a long time. This is because full charging and discharging can damage the energy storage device. Ideally, the charge level is between 20 and 80 percent. Above 80 percent, the loading speed is usually much slower, so you have to wait longer.
Good to know: You can be prepared for the residual capacity of your battery to be slightly higher than indicated for safety reasons. So you don't need to be afraid of running empty - but I can't guarantee that either 😉.
9. inform yourself before traveling abroad
In the meantime, vacation trips with the e-car are no longer unthinkable! A rule of thumb for this is currently: Drive north rather than south. Norway and the Netherlands, for example, have set a target of no more than 120 kilometers between two charging stations.₁ Accordingly, you will quickly find charging options there.
Before you travel, be sure to also find out about possible benefits. In the Czech Republic and Norway, for example, you can use the highway free of charge if you drive an electric car.
10. take advantage of the financial benefits of electromobility
As an e-car driver, you benefit in many ways. Be sure to take advantage of the government's innovation bonuses. For example, you will receive a financial Environmental bonus for the purchase of your electric car. KfW also supports the financing of the wallbox in your own home.
Moreover, you can even earn money with your electric car. For example, by selling the so-called GHG quota to a company via GHG providers.
Also be sure to apply for the voluntary "E license plate" for your car. You can use it to drive in the bus lane, for example, save on fees in public parking lots in many large cities in Germany, and recharge here and there for free. In the end, you can save money through sustainability.
Driving an electric car: Use the tips & tricks!
Driving an electric car is unbelievably fun and, compared to a combustion engine, much more environmentally friendly. But as you learned today at the latest, there are still countless tips and tricks to make your e-car even more sustainable, efficient and cost-saving. Not least because electric mobility is still in its infancy and is being specifically promoted.
I hope that I could help you with this article. Do you have any questions, suggestions or other tips that are still missing here? Then I'm already looking forward to your comment under this post.
Stay sustainable,
PS.: Look you gladly still something more in the Blog for sustainable mobility around. Learn now, for example, how you can to work as sustainably as possible come. Have a good trip!
References:
₁ Stephanie Sauter: How to make your vacation with the e-car work: 7 tips, available at https://www.gofast.swiss/blog/posts/so-klappt-der-urlaub-mit-dem-eauto-2021-7-tipps. [19.05.2022].
