Volvo outlines driving habits that extend electric car range

Most of the gap between an electric car’s quoted range and the range it delivers comes down to speed, temperature and habit rather than the car itself, according to guidance from Volvo. Two of those three factors are within the driver’s control.

Why speed costs electric cars more

Air resistance climbs steeply with velocity, and an EV feels it more acutely than a petrol car. A petrol engine runs better the harder it works, which hides some of the cost of speed. An electric motor is already near its best, so nothing is hidden. On the N1, the difference between 120km/h and 130km/h has more effect on remaining range than almost anything else a driver does that day.

Regenerative braking and pre-conditioning

Lifting off early and letting the car slow itself recovers energy that friction braking throws away as heat. In stop-start traffic, where a combustion car is at its worst, an electrified vehicle is at its most efficient, provided the driver anticipates rather than reacts.

Heating or cooling the cabin while still plugged in draws power from the wall instead of the battery. On a cold Highveld morning, that preserves several kilometres of range. “The car rewards someone who looks further ahead,” says Vusi Machie, Product and Pricing Manager at Volvo Car South Africa.

Charging habits for EV owners

For daily use, most manufacturers suggest keeping the battery between roughly 20 and 80% instead of routinely charging to full, and charging overnight at home on the lowest tariff available. Rapid public charging is best kept for journeys that need it. Owners whose vehicles are subject to an active service action should follow the specific guidance issued to them directly, which takes precedence over general advice.

Planning charging stops ahead

Setting a charging stop as a destination lets the car pre-condition the battery on approach, so it arrives at a temperature that can accept power quickly. Arriving with a cold pack is one of the more common reasons a charge takes longer than expected.

Machie says the aim is not slow driving but “spending energy where you want it rather than where the car loses it by default.” The technology does most of the work, and the remainder is habit.

Supplied by QuickPic (Volvo Car)

This story is based on aggregated news, press release(s) or other sources and was prepared with the help of AI tools, which can make mistakes. Prices, specifications, general information and availability may change, so confirm the details with the manufacturer, other news sources or a dealer.