MAXIMISE EVERY MILE

Looking to stretch every mile from your charge? Good news — there are plenty of simple ways to get more from your EV without sacrificing comfort. From smart driving habits to small tweaks in how you use in-car features, our Europcar EV drivers have shared their top tips to help you stay efficient and confident on every journey.

WHAT IS EV RANGE?

EV range refers to how many miles your car can drive on a full battery. You’ll often see this referred to as “WLTP range”, a standardised lab test used by manufacturers. This test, the Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure, aims to provide a consistent benchmark by simulating various real-world driving conditions in a controlled environment. But remember, real-world range can vary depending on things like weather, road conditions, and how you drive. That’s why understanding how to make small changes can go a long way in helping you get the most from every charge.

At Europcar, we aim to give you the most accurate picture possible for your electric vehicle choice. That’s why in our EV Showroom, we provide detailed range estimates for all the EVs you can hire from us to help you choose the right vehicle for your plans. Here’s what you’ll find:

WLTP Range: The official EV range from standardised tests under strict conditions, often differing from real-world performance.
Real Range: The actual distance an EV can travel on a full charge, considering real-world conditions including weather, driving style, and terrain.
Urban: The estimated range in city driving, with lower speeds and frequent stops.
Motorway: The estimated range at higher motorway speeds, where energy consumption increases.

TOP TIPS FOR BOOSTING RANGE

It pays to plan ahead

Before you head off on a long journey, plan your route and pick out a few charging points along the way (Zapmap is your friend).

Break with braking tradition

Reduce your charging by taking full advantage of regenerative braking to refill the battery and preserve your available driving range.

Consider pre-conditioning

Temperature can greatly impact range, so make sure you get the battery and interior conditioned to the optimal temperature before you leave the house (this is called pre-conditioning). This can usually be started and controlled via a handy smartphone app.

The heat is off

Heating is the biggest drain on the electric motor, so focus on keeping yourself feeling toasty (rather than the whole car) by using functions like heated seats and heated steering wheels.

Switch off unnecessary battery drainers

The more electrical features and gadgets you use, the more electricity you’ll eat up. Common sense really, so get into the habit of only using what you really need – especially on longer trips.

Keep your speed in check

For most EVs, the speeding sweet spot for efficiency is around 50-60mph, so whenever possible try and stay within this speed bracket. Using the ‘avoid motorways’ option on supporting smartphone apps is a great trick to use.

Keep your tyres inflated

Under-inflated tyres create more resistance and make the battery work harder, so keep them inflated to the correct pressure.

Change things up

Take full advantage of the EV’s ‘change mode’ and adjust the setting to suit both your driving style and to actively restrict energy-sapping modes like air-con and heating.

Maintenance is key

Like any vehicle, the more love you show an EV the less likely something will go wrong. Which means regular servicing, tyre checks and fluid top ups are all essential if you want to maximise range.

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