With the summer months upon us, electric vehicle (EV) owners may be wondering how to keep their cars running smoothly in the heat. Whether you’re a seasoned EV owner or a newbie, it’s crucial to know how to maintain your vehicle properly during the summer months.
So, buckle up and get ready to learn how to keep your EV running like a dream this summer!
1. Use the ‘ECO’ mode
Most modern electric vehicles have an eco mode. In addition to saving mileage, this feature reduces the energy used for other functions that consume charge behind the scenes such as air conditioner. The sophisticated feature also improves acceleration, dampens throttle response, and saves valuable battery power.
2. Only charge to 80% capacity
Industry experts say charging between 20% and 80% is the norm for keeping the battery in good shape, especially at high temperatures. Just like your cell phone, the battery gets hotter the longer you charge it. Combined with the sunny weather, this can lead to battery dissatisfaction (not to mention the increased risk of premature battery degradation).
3. Do not charge your EV immediately after driving
Electric vehicle batteries are hot from previous rides, so it is not recommended to charge them too soon (especially if the charger has been exposed to direct sunlight). The best time to charge an EV is at night or early in the morning when temperatures are cooler. In addition, the charging fee is cheaper because it is not charged during the busy season!
4. Shadow is EV’s best friend
The easiest and most obvious (and perhaps the most important tip!) is to avoid parking in direct sunlight. Park in a shaded area instead. Unless your electric car is left in the sun for long periods of time (and legally parked!), whether it’s under a tree, garage, or anywhere else, it helps protect the battery from overheating (and, the electric car does not consume much energy during cooling, so the cruising range can also be maximized!). Your car can get burned if it sits in the sun all day, You’ll want to turn the A/C on full blast just to endure it. A sunshade windshield cover can also help.
5. Try EV Preconditioning
Preconditioning is a popular feature for warming the interior of electric vehicles during cold weather. However, it also helps in summer. If your electric vehicle has a preconditioning function, you can remotely pre-cool the cabin before you get into the vehicle. This not only increases range by regulating electric vehicles to the optimum temperature to prevent overloading all day long but also makes for a more comfortable and sweat-free driving experience.
It also saves time by allowing you to pre-condition your EV before you travel. So you don’t waste time blowing your air conditioner or fogging up your windows – a win-win solution! Tesla is one of the most used EVs with this feature. You can even set it up remotely via an app, so you don’t have to leave your home!
6. Use fewer applications while driving
Have you ever noticed that when you open multiple applications on your phone, your device gets hot and slows down? EV batteries do the same. The more background processes your electric car runs, the hotter the battery gets.
When driving in hot weather, it is recommended to close some of these external applications if they are not important. Gaming apps, text messaging, and music streaming services running in electric vehicle software are just a few of the features that can be shut down to conserve vehicle battery life.
With these simple tips, you can make the most of your EV during the summer.
For helpful and unbiased advice on installing an EV home charger, contact us. Feel free to call us at +971585230234 if you are not sure where to start.
