How to drive an electric car

There’s a revolution happening in the way we power the cars we drive: electric cars are becoming an increasingly popular way to travel in the US and across the world.

The automotive landscape is shifting to reflect this change, with major manufacturers such as Tesla, Ford, GM and VW launching more and more electric vehicle (EV) options.  

MAX EFFICIENCY

What is the most efficient way to drive an electric car?

Exactly the same as gas-powered vehicles, there are ways to improve the performance of an electric vehicle via your driving practices. One of the main concerns with driving an EV is the distance it will cover before the power runs out and the battery needs recharging. While EVs are naturally very efficient, it’s important to be conscious of how you’re driving if you want to cover the maximum possible range on a charge.

One of the keys to this is having a light right foot. It might be tempting to use all that torque to move away quickly when the stop light turns green, but taking off more slowly and smoothly will preserve your power.

Stopping slowly and gradually will maximize your battery as well. EVs assist the driver with this practice via their regen braking, a setting that increases battery charge by recapturing energy that would otherwise be wasted with traditional braking methods.

Something else to consider is how much power you’re using with other onboard features. Air-conditioning, heating and media all drain power from the battery. If it’s safe and comfortable to do so, it’s a good idea to switch them off during your trip to save power.

THE BATTERY

What happens if an electric car runs out of battery?

While not impossible, the chance of your EV running out of battery power is extremely unlikely. This is due to a few factors:

• Charging station availability: With over 40,000 public charging stations in the US and planned government initiatives to install an additional 500,000 stations nationwide, there are ample opportunities to charge along your journey – today and into the future.
• Battery-status displays: The Tesla Model 3, for example, displays the battery meter and the battery range in a prominent location on the touchscreen to assist with monitoring your charge. The battery meter reflects the charge remaining with numerical percentage, a status bar and color changes (green to yellow to red). The battery range displays estimated miles remaining.
• Intelligent design: As Model 3 detects a low charge, it provides plentiful alerts and warnings as well as suggested nearby charging station locations via pop-up notifications.

There are numerous practices to easily ensure your EV always has plenty of charge, such as:

• Monitor your battery charge throughout your trip, keeping in mind extreme weather conditions, poor driving practices and excessive use of car features will run the charge down faster.
• Anticipate when you will need to recharge and where charging stations are located, ensuring the distance to the next charging station is not greater than the distance remaining on your battery.
• Become comfortable with your preferred location search method. Options range from touching the lightning bolt on the Model 3 touchscreen to downloading apps such as Plugshare and/or ChargePoint.

In the improbable event your EV battery dies, the car will gradually come to a stop and put itself in park. From there, the car will need to be towed to a charging station. Once your vehicle is charged, you can restart your journey.

Want to learn more about going electric with your next rental car? Check out our electric car hub where you’ll find FAQs, guides and more detailed information on our flagship electric rental vehicle, the Tesla Model 3.