Last year, we acquired our inaugural (and ideally final) brand new car. The most affordable electric vehicle within our required range was what we went for. Despite this, the majority of our transit still involves cycling, walking, and public transportation. Our use of the electric car largely comes into play during instances of carrying equipment, transporting extra passengers over substantial distances, or travelling with our large dog. He is not as accepted on public transportation as he would be in Britain.
Our automobile has taken us to France and the UK, giving us the opportunity to experience the intricacies of charging in three different countries. The past nine months have provided us with various insights regarding the electric-car experience. While there were certain stumbling blocks, the need for better infrastructure, increased availability of public chargers, and improvement of conduct around available charging stations was evident. That said, the pleasure of cleaner and cost-effective driving cannot be overstated.
Here are some key pointers for electric car drivers:
– Keep your speed in check. A steady 100km/h on a motorway ensures your battery life comfortably lasts for the journey. Most electric cars come with settings that aid in maintaining optimal speed, making the drive less strenuous.
– Utilise night-time electricity rates if possible. If you possess a home charging unit, you can plug in your vehicle at night and schedule the car to start charging during the cheapest electricity hours (for instance, 4am-8am). As a result, you get to charge your vehicle at almost half the regular rate and ease the burden on the power grid.
– Try not to exceed a 90% charging limit. Charging to full capacity may seem convenient, but it adversely affects the longevity of your battery. Striving to maintain a charging limit of 90% and ensuring it never diminishes below 5-10% is advisable.
– Avoid hogging public charging stations. Users often plug their vehicles and disappear for extended periods. Though an excess charge applies post 45 minutes of use, the bad etiquette around public charging persists. Ideally, users should stay nearby their vehicles and communicate to those waiting when their charging session will conclude.
Plan your trip and rely on your dashboard readings. Our previous hybrid’s fuel gauge could swiftly drop from 30km to nil based on the hill inclines. Our electric vehicle, however, is reliable in providing accurate readings of the remaining battery range, down to the last metre.
The finest public charging stations we’ve come across? Those would be at the Kinnegad services. Their rapid chargers will have you prepped for the road by the time you’ve purchased your coffee and leisurely returned to your vehicle.
[ Answering your EV queries: What are the charging alternatives for apartment dwellers? ]