Factors that impact the range on an EV

Source:https://www.energybite.co.in/blog-post/factors-that-impact-the-range-on-an-ev/

Despite an increase in the popularity of EVs, there are many who still stay away from these green vehicles because of the range anxiety. There are multiple factors which impact the range; extreme weather conditions being the prime ones. And there are also several ways one can extract a higher range from an electric vehicle.

Electric vehicles are gaining increased popularity in recent times and their sales are soaring all over the world. With more and more people becoming conscious about the environment and also getting attracted towards the latest technology, the uptake of EVs is steadily on the rise.

Yet, a large majority still shies away from switching over to EVs due to range anxiety. Worse still, even the promised range at the time of purchasing an EV turns out to be merely a tentative number and this discourages the buyers further.

• The fact is the actual range of an EV is affected by numerous factors. Be it the weather conditions or the driving behavior of the person, the range of an EV keeps varying.
• Road conditions also play a huge role in impacting the driving range of an EV. A smooth road extracts less power from the battery and has a positive effect on the driving range of an EV.
• Charging the battery regularly, in-time servicing of the vehicle and driving in Pure Drive mode or Comfort mode rather than Sports mode can also boost the range.

The fact is the actual range of an EV is affected by numerous factors. Be it the weather conditions or the driving behaviour of the person, the range of an EV keeps varying. The claimed driving range of an EV is calculated by the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) in a controlled environment within a laboratory. In the real world, however, the range reduces drastically due to factors such as traffic conditions, topography, outside temperature, wind speed and road conditions.

The driving range of an EV particularly decreases in extreme temperatures, whether it is too hot or too cold. In a country with extreme weather conditions like in India where the temperature in winters can go as low as 1 degree Celsius and shoot up to as high as 50 degrees Celsius in summers, it is rather difficult to expect a good range from an EV.

Besides the weather, road conditions also play a huge role in impacting the driving range of an EV. A smooth road extracts less power from the battery and has a positive effect on the driving range of an EV. On the other hand, if the road is full of potholes, the motor derives more power from the battery pack and impacts negatively on the driving range. Being a developing country, India has long been struggling with its road infrastructure. Though many of the big cities now boast of better-quality roads, overall the roads in the country are not ideally suited for an EV to give a higher range.

Despite all these challenges, there are many ways that owners can extract a higher range from their EVs. Charging the battery regularly, in-time servicing of the vehicle and driving in Pure Drive mode or Comfort mode rather than Sports mode can also boost the range. And last but not the least, maintaining the right tyre pressure also goes a long way in improving the driving range of an EV.