I’m new to EVs & the EV6 & was wondering what are the best ways to achieve the greatest mileage per ‘refill.’ I turned my heat on the other day & lost 10 miles on the battery, so I rode around with just the seat warmer on instead. If you guys have any tips like that, it’d be great.
Unless you need every bit of range for your daily drive or don’t have charging at home, I would not worry about it. Enjoy the car and just plug it in every night.
Nathan said:
Unless you need every bit of range for your daily drive or don’t have charging at home, I would not worry about it. Enjoy the car and just plug it in every night.
This! Enjoy the car and the many benefits of an EV: driving dynamics, instant heat in winter, the ability to warm up your car while plugged in with the garage closed, and having a full charge every day. Unless you’re road-tripping, just enjoy the car. For maximizing range:
- Slow down, stay under 70mph, 55 if you’re in a bind.
- Keep tires properly inflated.
- Minimize HVAC use; seat and steering heaters use less power.
- Coast when possible; don’t use iPedal as it keeps both motors engaged.
- Pre-condition the car while plugged in to save battery.
But seriously, for commuting and daily use—stay comfortable and enjoy the ride!
Enjoy the car. Drive it like a car. Plug it in at night. Don’t obsess about the state of charge, or you’ll never enjoy it.
If you’re concerned about range, the seat warmer and heated steering wheel are designed to reduce climate control use and preserve range. Direct heat is more efficient than heating air.
To maximize range:
- Drive below 65mph. Air resistance increases with the square of speed.
- Avoid roof rails or items that disrupt aerodynamics.
- Avoid towing.
- Drive gently; avoid hard acceleration and braking.
Check out EV efficiency tests online, like those comparing auto regen and iPedal. Generally, auto regen is more efficient.
Tips for battery longevity:
- Keep the state of charge (SoC) between 20-80% for daily use.
- Occasionally let it go to 15% and charge to 100% to calibrate the battery.
- Avoid frequent fast charging unless on long trips.
- Don’t let it sit for long at very low or very high SoC.
- Pre-condition the car while plugged in during extreme weather.
With these habits, you’ll maximize battery life and performance.
AC uses less power than heat. Use heated seats, pre-condition while plugged in, and drive in auto regen for better efficiency. City driving is generally better for range than highway speeds.
Avoid iPedal unless in city traffic; auto regen is more efficient for most driving. And don’t freeze for the sake of a few extra miles!
Keep SoC between 30-80% and avoid sitting at very low or very high charge for extended periods. Use pre-conditioning when plugged in to save battery life.