Autonomy of an electric car: understand everything
In the past, the electric car had limited autonomy and allowed urban and peri-urban trips only. This is no longer the case today: the continuous improvement of batteries and the installation of charging points throughout France allow electric vehicles to consider all journeys, even the longest ones. What is the range of an electric car? How to increase it? Qovoltis answers your questions.
How far can an electric car travel on a charge?
LThe autonomy of an electric car depends largely on the capacity of its battery: the higher it is, the more kilometers the vehicle can travel on a single charge. With technological advances and the design of ever more powerful models, drivers now have the opportunity to choose from vehicles with very different capabilities.
The autonomy announced by the manufacturers varies between 150 km and 600 km (for the most efficient cars). In practice, this corresponds to a real autonomy ranging from 100 to 500 km on average.
Did you know that?
The electric car works thanks to a lithium ion battery. Its main advantage: its autonomy. It has excellent storage capacities and can store up to 3 to 4 times more energy than other battery technologies.
What autonomy should you choose according to its use?
Drivers worried about breaking down are often tempted to choose a car with as much range as possible. However, taking battery capacity into account is not enough: habits also matter.
In France, 77% of drivers drive less than 100 km per day. This corresponds to short and medium trips (work, shopping, etc.) for which electric city cars are more than enough. Models such as the Renault Zoe or the Peugeot e-208 have an announced range of up to 395 km for example.
In addition, the charging infrastructure network is growing rapidly in France. It is now easy to charge your electric vehicle, even on the highway. To travel long distances, high-power public charging stations (or Supercharger) are accessible and allow you to recharge your battery in a few tens of minutes.
For those used to long trips, more powerful models exist, especially in SUVs and sedans. These include the Nissan Leaf e+ (up to 385 km) and the BMW iX3 (up to 460 km).
To choose a battery capacity adapted to your use, calculate the number of kilometers driven daily and opt for a range greater than the result obtained. If you are in doubt, the manufacturers offer the possibility of conducting a test run. A practical solution to verify that a model meets your needs perfectly.
> To read also: How long does it take to charge my electric car
How to optimize the autonomy of your electric car?
Battery capacity isn't the only factor that affects The autonomy of an electric car. To optimize it, here are some actions to adopt on a daily basis:
- Reduce the use of air conditioning and heating
Both consume between 10 and 20% of the autonomy of your car. To maintain a comfortable temperature while maintaining your battery, activate the “Eco” mode. If your car offers it, you can also use the warm-up function. It can be activated up to one hour before your departure and heats or cools the cabin when the vehicle is connected to a charging point.
Note: Opening the windows significantly increases the vehicle's air resistance. It is better to give preference to air conditioning.
- Favoring eco-driving
The autonomy of a car increases or decreases depending on the driving style. Driving fast, pressing the brake too often... are all behaviors that increase energy consumption. If you want to drive more kilometers before the next charge, it is advisable to drive more slowly (between 70 and 90 km/h) and to anticipate changes in pace with regenerative braking. To help you adopt economical driving, cars generally offer an Eco mode. Its principle: to soften the power of the engine during acceleration and to reduce the power of the air conditioning.
- Inflate your tires and make the car lighter
Underinflated tires increase energy consumption. Think about it, especially before a long trip! Also, free your car of heavy objects that you don't use, such as a bike rack or roof rack.
> To read also: Electric car battery: 5 good habits to preserve it
