Some drivers drive without even glimpsing at the fuel level while others are much more fuel-conscious – this is true behind the wheel of a diesel SUV, a petrol coupé or full hybrid compact car. This issue becomes even more important with a hybrid car that needs to be plugged in to be charged or an all-electric vehicle. In the former case, even when you run out of zero-emission kilometres, all you have to do is stop at a fuel station to fill the fuel tank of the combustion engine. In the latter, when the energy reserve is zero, there is no alternative: you're stranded. Until this type of vehicle requires less frequent and easier charging – which translates to more range for the model and a larger quantity of charging docks – we cannot state that the conduct for both types of vehicles is the same.
The fear of being stranded
On a vehicle driven by a traditional combustion engine, fuelling anxiety only arises when a driver gets the maths wrong and ends up somewhere without fuel stations; on the other hand, novice drivers in particular struggle to get their heads round a zero-emission car because, although the on-board assistance systems “track” the ideal route to avoid getting stranded, only proper driving ensures the range that the manufacturers claim. Certainly, when driving at high speed or in city traffic, petrol or diesel models also consume far more fuel than expected, but the average driver's experience and ease of refuelling (almost always) avoid problems.
Laid-back style
The first piece of advice is to adopt a relaxed driving style behind the wheel of an electric car, if you do not want to risk seeing your range take a nosedive in no time. The ideal style is to learn to accelerate in a very progressive way, and then motor along at a steady pace. As with petrol or diesel cars, managing the pressure exerted by your right foot properly helps reduce fuel consumption because, even for electric cars, 90 km/h remains the most efficient speed: very few drivers keep to this limit on the motorway, obviously, and you can see this in just a few journeys on electric compact cars.
Predictive driving
It is essential to acquire a “predictive” driving style, to a much greater extent than on a model with a combustion engine. In fact, being able to interpret the traffic ahead can put you in a position to save a lot of energy, by taking your foot off the accelerator when the cars in front are beginning to stop or by starting to slow down before you get to the traffic lights ahead which you've noticed are now red.
The weight of braking
The advantage of having an electric car over a traditional one with a combustion engine is the ability to ‘earn' kilometres by braking because, thanks to the kinetic energy recovery system that distinguishes any car with zero emissions, every time you ease your foot off the accelerator, the car starts to slow down considerably. This way, you end up using the brake pedal only for the final stop and almost never to slow down. With experience, ‘earning kilometres' – as you can see from the indicator on the dashboard – will become an almost fun activity that involves you looking ahead, anticipating situations.
The Brake function
It makes sense to adopt this habit in traditional cars too, as it leads to lower brake consumption, lower tyre consumption and, consequently, lower running costs. Even downhill, classic braking can be reduced, as almost all electric models are equipped with the Brake mode, which can usually be selected by setting the gear lever to B: by increasing the electromagnetic resistance of the engine, more energy is recovered, braking the car even more.
Watch the climate control
While we wait for progress to lead to more powerful batteries being fitted, for the same footprint and costs, there is one element that, in addition to driving, can help control the range. The climate control – whether used to cool down or heat up – is powered by the battery, drawing energy from the battery to operate. Of course, perfection cannot be achieved, but you should learn not to 'tweak' the temperature continuously and to set an acceptable temperature right from the start. For this reason, the latest generation models have a system that allows you to activate the climate control while the car is still charging and parked, drawing the required energy directly from the power outlet.
Think about comfort
This way, you can climb in and have the temperature you want right away. However, considering the type of journey you want to go on, those driving a car with a limited range will have to give up on some comfort to avoid frequent stops for charging. Which doesn't mean travelling with all the windows open in the summer and wearing two extra layers in the winter, but rather considering the vehicle and the distance.
