If you own an electric vehicle, you’ve probably heard the term “range anxiety.” Unlike fuel stations, EV chargers aren’t always as easy to spot, even though there are over 70,000 public EV chargers. Finding a charger can still feel trickier than filling up with petrol, which is why getting the most out of every charge is more important than ever.
Using your EV’s app, you can heat or cool your car before driving. This saves battery while keeping the cabin comfortable. On cold winter mornings, the windows can be defrosted and the cabin heated before you get in, making your drive safer and more comfortable.
At the same time, pre-conditioning also warms the battery, which helps it perform more efficiently and can slightly increase your electric range in chilly weather.
Driving at high speeds can drain your EV’s battery much faster than keeping to moderate speeds. The faster you go, the more energy your car needs, especially on motorways. Driving at 50-60 mph on motorways can be significantly more efficient than 70 mph.
Maintaining a steady speed and using cruise control where possible can help you get more miles per charge, making your electric vehicle's range last longer between stops.
One of the smartest ways to maximise your EV’s range is to take full advantage of regenerative braking. Most modern electric cars are designed to recover energy when you slow down, sending it back into the battery instead of wasting it as heat like traditional brakes.
Instead of braking sharply, try coasting gently or easing off the accelerator to let the car decelerate naturally. In stop-start traffic or when driving downhill, this can make a significant difference to your battery life.
Learning to use regenerative braking effectively doesn’t just improve efficiency; it can also reduce wear on your brakes, which is an added bonus.
While it might be tempting to charge your EV battery to 100% every time, most manufacturers recommend keeping your charge between 20–80% for everyday use. Charging to full capacity can put extra strain on the battery over time, whereas topping up to around 80% is better for battery health and still provides plenty of range for typical journeys.
For longer trips, you can charge closer to 100% if needed, but for daily driving, sticking to 80% is often more efficient. Charging between 20-80% also tends to be faster than charging from 0-100%, saving you time at the electric vehicle charger.
While you may wonder how carrying extra items affects your EV’s range, it can actually make a significant difference. Heavier loads require more energy to move, which puts extra strain on the battery and reduces the distance you can travel on a single charge. Even everyday items in the boot can add up over time.
By keeping your car light and only carrying what you truly need, you can improve efficiency and extend the number of miles you get per charge. This is especially noticeable on longer journeys or when driving in stop-start traffic, where every extra kilogram makes the battery work harder.
Reducing weight isn’t just about range; it can also make the car easier to handle, improve braking performance, and even slightly reduce tyre wear. Over the long term, these small changes add up, helping your EV deliver the best electric vehicle range and performance possible.