Be PreÂpared.
The Scouts motÂto can be applied in so many areas of life, maybe most imporÂtantÂly with travÂelÂing or the unexÂpectÂed in emerÂgency. FacÂing emerÂgenÂcies with an elecÂtric car is often an adjustÂment comÂpared to a gas car. True, there are not realÂly any alterÂnaÂtives for an EV such as a jerÂry can of gas, but there are strateÂgies that can come to your aid in a low charge expeÂriÂence with an EV.
First of all, a driÂver can make changes to maxÂiÂmize a low state of charge in an EV. Speed is the numÂber one thing to monÂiÂtor. HavÂing a lead foot is the fastest way to drain a batÂtery! StrainÂing the elecÂtrons to move that heavy vehiÂcle faster than highÂway limÂits eats more powÂer than anyÂthing else you could do. SimÂply going 5 miles under the highÂway limÂit can extend your range by 10% or more in most casÂes. And the realÂiÂty is, speedÂing only shaves 5 to 10 minÂutes of driÂve time at best. If you know your trip has a long disÂtance between chargÂers, startÂing your trip going 10 mph under the limÂit for the first 20 minÂutes will proÂvide you with a very comÂfortÂable buffer.
A pracÂtiÂcal way to tackÂle range anxÂiÂety is to experÂiÂment. Find an afterÂnoon that you can go for a short road trip. DriÂve in an area that you know has access to chargÂing and driÂve until your car reachÂes zero. KnowÂing how your car hanÂdles 0%, what the alerts will be, and what the powÂer dynamÂics feel like can give you the knowlÂedge and expeÂriÂence for when you do come close to an empÂty batÂtery on a trip. Most automakÂers proÂvide 3–5kwh of buffer past 0%. GetÂting to know that limÂit will help you tackÂle anxÂiÂety on a real trip. I’m always comÂfortÂable now arrivÂing at a chargÂing staÂtion with 5% or less because I know from expeÂriÂence how far it realÂly takes to get to 0%.
That said, even the best strateÂgies only go so far. If you do run out of batÂtery, pull over. Use apps such as Plugshare or ChargeÂpoint to locate chargÂers suitÂable for your car nearÂby and call for a tow. Often, if withÂin warÂranÂty, you can call the manÂuÂfacÂturÂer of your EV and they will assist in findÂing you a tow to the nearÂest chargÂer. AAA also now offers plans for EV driÂvers for low charge emergencies.
UltiÂmateÂly, EV’s have more options than gas alterÂnaÂtives. A simÂple outÂlet can give the averÂage EV 4–6 miles of range in an hour of chargÂing. CampÂsites, KOA’s, hotel parkÂing lots, and shopÂping cenÂters often have outÂdoor outÂlets for holÂiÂday lights and decÂoÂraÂtions. Ask the store ownÂer perÂmisÂsion and use your mobile chargÂer to plug in. An hour and half of chargÂing on a regÂuÂlar outÂlet could get you enough charge to make the nearÂest chargÂing staÂtion in a real pinch.
No one purÂchasÂing an EV intends to also carÂry around a gas genÂerÂaÂtor to make sure you nevÂer run out of charge. You won’t be walkÂing the side of the highÂway with an empÂty gas can to get a 0% EV up and going, but with preÂparedÂness and planÂning, most ownÂers may nevÂer even see a 5% state of charge in their car. HowÂevÂer, if you do, know that there are many strateÂgies to use those last elecÂtrons to get you to safety.
WritÂten by VolÂunÂteer EV Coach Ben Westby