In today’s market, new energy vehicles, specifically pure electric vehicles (EVs), have become increasingly well-known to consumers. Whether due to preferences or policy influences, more and more people are starting to understand and appreciate pure electric vehicles.
When discussing pure electric vehicles, the issue of range inevitably comes up. Indeed, with the development of battery, motor, and electronic control technology, the range of electric vehicles continues to improve. Nowadays, it’s not uncommon to find EVs with ranges exceeding 500 km or even 600 km. However, regardless of the improvements in range, one question remains: How can we drive more efficiently to save electricity?
Today, we will delve into this topic and explore how to make EVs more energy-efficient during actual driving.
Table of Contents
Driving Behavior
This aspect is easy to understand. For pure electric vehicles, the following driving behaviors significantly impact the range, and should be given attention in daily driving.
1. Air Conditioning: In traditional gasoline cars, using the heater merely involves repurposing the engine's waste heat, unlike the air conditioner which requires the compressor. However, in EVs, using the heater also requires the compressor.
Therefore, it's better to avoid using the air conditioner when it's not necessary, as it consumes a lot of electricity in EVs. After all, the air conditioning system in an EV operates differently from that in a gasoline car. Of course, heat pump air conditioners are somewhat more efficient.
2. Tires: Generally, it is recommended to use economy tires, which sacrifice some grip for better efficiency. If you’re not into aggressive driving, these types of tires are recommended.
Additionally, increasing tire pressure by 0.2-0.3 bar can help improve the vehicle’s range. However, this comes with a downside: higher tire pressure reduces the tire's shock absorption capability, affecting driving comfort and grip.
3. Avoid Overloading: Try to avoid overloading or climbing very steep hills. Due to the working principle of electric motors, exceeding the rated power can cause the battery to discharge at a high current, which can damage the battery, reducing both range and lifespan.
Driving Habits
The second aspect concerns driving behavior. We know that EVs often feature regenerative braking, which is why you feel a drag when you release the accelerator. So, which setting is the most suitable for regenerative braking?
"The most suitable setting is the one that best suits your driving habits." It’s not always best to set regenerative braking to the highest level. Instead, adjust it according to your driving habits.
If you enjoy aggressive driving with hard acceleration and braking, it’s recommended to set regenerative braking to the highest level. This allows the system to recover some of the energy that would otherwise be wasted during braking, achieving better energy savings.
If you prefer a smoother driving style and dislike the drag of regenerative braking, you don’t need to adapt to this feeling. Simply set it to the lowest level. A smoother driving style can also lead to good range performance in EVs.
Of course, for EVs, gradually increasing the accelerator pedal angle, reaching the desired speed, and then quickly reducing the pedal opening to maintain a constant speed is ideal. Because EVs accelerate quickly, maintaining a constant speed differs from driving a gasoline car.
Conclusion
For pure electric vehicles, achieving a robust range performance requires more attention to driving habits. Additionally, the driving environment is crucial. For instance, driving in cold northern regions during winter can significantly reduce the range.
