Charged up: Easy ways to maximize EV range in summer

To maximize your electric vehicle's range in the summer, focus on saving energy through smart driving and preparation. By pre-conditioning your vehicle, managing your air conditioning, and driving in a way that helps your battery recover energy, you can preserve EV efficiency even in high heat. 

Here are some tips to maximize your EV’s range and keep your trips worry-free. 

1. Start cool: Precondition your EV

Preconditioning means activating your EV's air conditioning while the vehicle is still plugged in, so the cabin cools down before you begin driving. This draws energy from the grid to cool your cabin, saving the vehicle battery’s energy for your drive. Preconditioning can often be done remotely and safely indoors through your smartphone app or from the vehicle’s dash — without idling emissions. 

2. Manage climate control wisely

While tempting on a hot day, running the A/C on its highest setting will have a noticeable draw on electric vehicle range. How much does air conditioning affect EV range? In fact, running A/C full blast can cost you about 10 miles (15 km) per hour. Once the initial heat is dispelled (preferably during pre-conditioning), aim to use the AC intermittently and use recirculation mode; A/C uses about 20 times more energy than just the fan. 

If your EV is equipped with seat coolers, use them as your preferred choice as they consume less energy than cooling the entire cabin space. Finding ways to save energy in your EV means that you’ll worry less about getting stuck in traffic and losing range. 

3. Drive smoothly and maximize regen

Driving style can help maximize your EV's range. Practice smooth acceleration and deceleration. Aggressive driving tends to deplete the battery faster. Anticipating stops and avoiding hard braking helps recover more energy, adding extra miles to your drive due to the car’s ability to capture energy from slowing down back into the battery. Use regenerative braking to your advantage. In many EVs, the driver can control the level of regen, so make sure you have this setting turned up. 

4. Easy does it: Don’t speed 

Avoid the temptation to speed, particularly on the highway. Speeding affects EV range. Air resistance increases proportionally to the square of speed; that is, if speed doubles, air resistance quadruples. Basically, this means your car has to work much harder against the wind with just small increases in speed. Stick to the speed limit to conserve your range. 

5. Park cool: Seek shade 

Whenever possible, park your EV in the shade to keep your vehicle cooler and reduce the demand on the climate control system. If you have access to a plug or outlet when you’re parked, plug in for the additional benefit of battery and cabin conditioning.

Is it bad to leave an EV in the sun? 

Once the EV gets too hot, or too cold, vehicle efficiency will start to drop. Based on an analysis over 5.2 million EV trips, Geotab found that when EVs operate in temperatures between 50°F and 88°F (10°C to 31°C), they can achieve 100% or more of their rated range. The sweet spot for EV efficiency is 70°F (21.5°C). 

Parking places with shade for EVs: 

• Under a tree
• Covered parking garage
• Underground garage

• EV charging station with a shade or solar canopy

   

6.  Hot day? Charge gently to protect battery health

Should you use fast charging in hot weather? If you have the option, avoid fast charging (DCFC) on the hottest days. The combination of high heat and high power can add stress to your batteries, contributing to faster degradation rates in the long term.

Fast charging frequently can also influence EV battery life in the long term. For an in-depth look at the impact of charging methods on EV battery lifespan, see this Geotab study on EV battery degradation.

So there you have it! A few simple tricks to keep you rolling this summer. Happy driving!