Several factors could cause a draining EV battery, but with above-average temperatures predicted for June, air conditioning could be a huge contributor.<\/p>\n
Using a combination of live vehicle data, manufacturer tech sheets, and maths, researchers calculated how much energy electrical systems require<\/a> and converted that into how many miles per hour it\u2019ll use in an electric vehicle (EV).<\/p>\n
So, what are the most common things that cause a draining EV battery?<\/p>\n
The biggest cause of a draining EV battery is climate control, such as using heating in winter or air conditioning in summer.<\/p>\n
Climate systems typically require around 3-4kW to run, which equates to seven miles of range per hour to run the air-con and five miles per hour to run heaters.<\/p>\n
Both front and rear heated screens are also a minor cause of a drained battery. Heated windscreens are much more energy intensive than rear screens but usually have an automatic switch off after a short time to reduce energy demand.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s how much range different climate control settings require:<\/p>\n
Home electricity bills usually soar in winter; however, lighting\u2019s impact on EV batteries is minimal, fortunately.<\/p>\n
Lighting systems, including fog lights, brake lights, or headlights, use a tiny amount of energy \u2013 just 0.2 miles per hour.<\/p>\n
Modern cars come with a plethora of technology, such as touchscreens, sound systems, and USB chargers. Does this mean these devices should be switched off as a result of a draining EV battery?<\/p>\n
An audio system can use 0.3 miles per hour while an infotainment display uses 0.4 miles per hour. Therefore, if the battery is significantly degraded, switching off any tech items might be a good idea.<\/p>\n
A USB charger is of less concern, with a tiny amount of impact on range. However, if several are plugged into one car, you might start to see an impact.<\/p>\n
On-board tech impacts range as follows:<\/p>\n
Other vehicle electrical systems include windscreen wipers, central locking, remote connectivity, and ABS.<\/p>\n
All of these can cause a draining EV battery; however, they are very small in terms of range impact. Despite this, when everything is added up, including the heating or cooling systems, lighting and entertainment systems, they\u2019ll require over 5kW of power to run \u2013 equal to around ten miles per hour.<\/p>\n
Freezing cold temperatures may show a reduced battery range. This is because an EV battery chemistry becomes sluggish during cold bouts of weather, and cars need to use energy to heat the battery up.<\/p>\n
To prevent a draining EV battery, it\u2019s important to consider pre-conditioning and selecting a heat pump as an option on any new vehicle.<\/p>\n
Not only do these sufficiently heat the vehicle, but heat pumps mean the battery won\u2019t be used to heat the car when driving. Overall, heat pumps are a great option for maximising EV range and are 10% more efficient than a traditional heater.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/strong>Considering all the factors that cause a degrading EV battery, you can take several measures to add range to your EV<\/a>.<\/p>\n