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What affects range? Find out what impacts EV range & how to maximise each charge From battery size and electric motor efficiency to your average speed and
driving style, several factors can play a role in determining the distance an
electric car can travel on a full charge of its battery. Got a question?

A driver's guide to what affects electric car ranges

The range of electric cars is an incredibly important factor because electric cars take longer to replenish their charge once it is depleted. There are a number considerations when thinking about the range of an electric vehicle, in order to maximise the efficiency of your new electric car.

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Driving styles and habits One of the biggest factors that will affect range is how you’re driving your car. Your habits and driving style can play a part in how efficient your vehicle is, and just how much you’ll get out of the car’s expected range. We’ve put together a list of considerations to bear in mind in order to improve your electric range.
High-speed driving Driving at high speed means there is more air resistance, meaning your electric motor has to work harder to keep you travelling at a constant speed. You should consider sticking even more closely to the speed limit, and try to avoid any unnecessary driving at higher speeds.
Aggressive accelerating and braking Erratic driving can reduce efficiency because it takes more energy to accelerate back up to speed rather than maintain constant speed. What’s more, by relaxing your pressure on the accelerator rather than harshly braking, you can increase the effectiveness of the car’s regenerative braking.
Payload or towing Carrying extra passengers or luggage will increase the energy needed to maintain speed. Sometimes this is unavoidable, but if you can, you should aim to reduce the weight load that your car is carrying.
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Climate and weather All cars, EV or otherwise, perform worse during the winter months due to lower operating temperatures. There are also a multitude of other factors throughout the year that can affect the range of your car. Here’s how the weather can affect your electric range.
Hot and cold temperatures Batteries operate at their best when they are between 15-35°C, meaning that during especially hot or cold days, they will struggle to operate at their best. This is, however, similar to how combustion engine vehicles perform under the same conditions. Batteries will also charge slower during the summer to avoid overheating.
Heating and cooling Using the car’s heating or cooling system will draw power from the battery, reducing the energy that can be used to power the wheels. This can be somewhat offset by setting the car’s temperature while it is still drawing power from the mains.
Wind Air resistance is one of the largest factors that can affect MPG, whether in an electric vehicle or an ICE vehicle. Driving in especially windy conditions puts added strain on the battery to deliver power to the wheels.
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Climate and weather All cars, EV or otherwise, perform worse during the winter months due to lower operating temperatures. There are also a multitude of other factors throughout the year that can affect the range of your car. Here’s how the weather can affect your electric range.
Hot and cold temperatures Batteries operate at their best when they are between 15-35°C, meaning that during especially hot or cold days, they will struggle to operate at their best. This is, however, similar to how combustion engine vehicles perform under the same conditions. Batteries will also charge slower during the summer to avoid overheating.
Heating and cooling Using the car’s heating or cooling system will draw power from the battery, reducing the energy that can be used to power the wheels. This can be somewhat offset by setting the car’s temperature while it is still drawing power from the mains.
Wind Air resistance is one of the largest factors that can affect MPG, whether in an electric vehicle or an ICE vehicle. Driving in especially windy conditions puts added strain on the battery to deliver power to the wheels.
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Car maintenance Keeping up with regular car maintenance will allow your car to perform at optimal levels for longer. Maintenance of the battery, steering and suspension as well as brake fluid and coolant can keep MPG high over the car’s lifetime.
Tyre pressure Properly inflated tyres lead to improved electric range by reducing rolling resistance making it harder for the motor to propel the car. Make sure you know your car’s recommended tyre pressure levels and check them regularly.
Tyre quality As well as tyre pressure, you should also ensure that the tyres fitted to your electric vehicle are designed to deal with the weight of an electric car as well as the instant torque that electric motors deliver.
Battery degradation As with any battery, the batteries in electric cars will degrade slightly over time. You can slow this down by using slower chargers and storing your car in optimal conditions.

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