Save electricity with an electric car

It’s true, electric cars do use more electricity in winter

It is fair to ask the question as to the part electric cars play in potential electricity shortages. We explore this topic in this blog post and explain why e-mobility is a part of the solution rather than the problem. It is undeniable, however, that electric cars do use more energy in winter than is available either for free or on an unlimited basis. This is due in part to the reduced capacity of the battery cell in colder temperatures. This is usually offset by battery heating, which again uses up more energy. Another aspect is that extra energy is also used to heat the inside of the car in winter, meaning additional energy consumption of 10–20% according to TCS. Real-world tests also show that colder temperatures reduce range by an average of 18%.

Such are the facts. At the same time, however, there is also definitely room for savings. Here we share with you the seven best tips for saving electricity with an electric car:

1. Choose an energy-efficient model

If you have already chosen your car, then this tip is not for you. For everyone else, we recommend considering effective consumption as a selection criterion when buying an electric car. Figures vary hugely between manufacturers and vehicle types. The most economical vehicles consume around 16 kilowatt hours per 100 km (e.g. Hyundai Ioniq Electric), while the most wasteful models reach figures of over 27 kilowatt hours (see ADAC test values). To put this into context: one kilowatt hour is enough to do a 60° wash. 

2. Switch on ECO mode

Perhaps the simplest action to take: most electric cars have what is known as an ECO mode. This mode saves energy by delaying and reducing acceleration, limiting maximum engine power and top speed, switching off four-wheel drive and turning down the heating or air conditioning (e.g. just for the driver). The easiest way to find out what your electric car’s ECO mode involves is to check your vehicle manual.

3. Recuperation and coasting

A special feature of electric cars is that they can recuperate energy while driving. The best way to do this is with what is known as one-pedal driving, where accelerating and braking in an electric car are both done with one pedal. Braking is done via recuperation, the aim of which is to regenerate the most energy possible. Braking by releasing the pedal requires a certain amount of getting used to, and responsiveness can be fine-tuned on most electric cars.

Recuperation is not always the best option for saving energy. Depending on the traffic situation, coasting could be the best option. When coasting, the car runs on existing kinetic energy while recuperation is deactivated. In many electric cars it is possible to determine whether coasting or recuperation should be given precedence. Coasting makes most sense on longer journeys where speeds are more consistent, while recuperation can regenerate the most energy in city traffic where there is lots of stopping and starting.

Expert tip: for snowy roads or tricky weather conditions, it’s worth putting recuperation on a lower setting to avoid locking the wheels.

4. Anticipatory driving

Admittedly a less thrilling tip. The powerful acceleration of an electric car can be very tempting. However, steady and anticipatory driving does save energy and preserves battery life. This is especially true in urban traffic, where rushing is pointless anyway and is soon put to a stop by the next set of lights.

5. Weight, additions, tyre pressure

Of course, traditional energy-saving tips also apply to electric cars. Roof additions and unnecessary weight increase electricity consumption. So when you go on holiday, it’s worth taking the roof box off again once you’ve arrived. Increasing tyre pressure by 0.2 bar also reduces consumption without cutting on comfort or safety.

6. Fast charging a warm battery You can also save electricity by fast-charging. With fast-charging, some of the energy is used to heat the battery up to the optimal charging temperature (find out more in this blog post). It makes sense then to plan in your next charge for when the battery is already warmed up as much as possible from driving. For example if you’re off on a day’s ski trip, it’s better to charge on arrival before hitting the piste, or else later as soon as you get home.

7. Avoid unnecessary journeys

Last but not least: we understand it’s much nicer in colder months to jump in a heated electric car to go those few yards to the baker’s or pick up some groceries round the corner. However, some of these trips, and the kilowatt hours consumed by them, can certainly be avoided by covering shorter distances by bike or on foot. Surprisingly, the pay-off for using public transport is no longer quite so straightforward. Calculations (see here) show that energy consumption per head for going by train or electric car are roughly the same.

Conclusion

Unsurprisingly, it’s a similar deal when driving an electric car: a careful approach can actually save energy. The biggest difference, however, is made even before you set off for the first time. Namely with your choice of car. The consumption data of different vehicle types can vary significantly, which then impacts on day-to-day life in terms of energy consumption and subsequently also electricity bills. In this blog post, we explain why the transition to electromobility still makes sense in view of the energy crisis.