Are you considering a long road trip with your electric car? Long distance driving electric vehicle causes many people great concern. But it is very possible and rather entertaining as well! We will review some crucial advice in this post to assist you in managing your EV while driving in India. From locating charging outlets to conserving battery life, these basic pointers can help your travel smoothly and pleasantly. Get ready to travel with your electric car!
Planning Your Route
Long distance driving an electric vehicle depends much on your planning of where you will drive. EV drivers have to know where they can charge their vehicles, unlike ordinary drivers who can locate petrol stations with ease.
Map Out All Charging Stations
Spend some time before you begin your journey locating all the charging stations along your path. Apps like PlugShare let you find locations of chargers. Marking these points on your map is wise. Look for backup charging stations in case your first pick fails as well. Team evo India meticulously documented all charge stations on Google Maps first, then traveled from Kashmir to Kanyakumari in a Tata Nexon EV.
Set Realistic Daily Distances
Consider how far one charge will get your automobile. Before requiring extra power, most electric vehicle can go between 300 and 350 kilometers. Sushil Reddy discovered on his Golden Quadrilateral trip that, with his MG ZS EV, 340 km was the most pleasant distance to traverse in a day. Plan your stops using the actual range of your automobile, not what the manufacturer says.
Managing Your Charging Apps
You may need to utilize many charging providers when crossing several Indian states.
Download Multiple Charging Apps
Charging stations are set up in various locations by different firms. Though other businesses could have stations in more handy locations, Tata Power has the most chargers spread around India. Sushil made use of many charging services during his trip, including Charge Point in Gujarat and Zeon Charge in South India.
Keep Your Apps Funded
Before your journey, remember to put money to every billing app. Usually unable to be reimbursed, the money you put should be ready for use on many other applications.
Get RFID Cards as Backup
Sometimes internet access is not guaranteed. A school test cut down the internet during Team Evo India’s visit across Rajasthan! RFID cards may therefore rescue you in such situations. Just touching these cards on the charger will start charging. Apply before your vacation for cards from many charge businesses.
Making the Most of Charging Time
Charging an electric vehicle takes more time than running a petrol tank, hence make careful use of this time.
Combine Meals with Charging
Try to charge your automobile around meal times. Search food malls or restaurants for charging stations. You may therefore savor your meal while your automobile runs on electricity. Usually found in lovely food malls where you may eat delicious dosas and sip coffee while waiting, zeon charge stations in South India are situated.
Choose Hotels with Chargers
Keep lodging in hotels with charging capabilities. This allows your automobile run over night while you sleep. Many hotels provide this service—sometimes for free—now days. Sushil saved money by charging his vehicle overnight at colleges and motels during his 8,849 mile trip.
Carry Charging Equipment
Always include a portable AC charging cord compatible with a typical 16 Amp outlet. Pack an extension cable also; the power outlet can be distant from your parking spot. These basic tools enable nearly anywhere charging.
Driving Techniques to Save Battery
Your EV’s mileage on one charge depends on how you drive it.
Find the Right Speed
On highways, driving at around 75 mph strikes a decent mix between preserving battery life and making forward progress. Going too fast can rapidly sap your energy. Sushil’s MG ZS EV could go 150 mph, although he often kept a modest pace to maximize range.
Use Regenerative Braking
Usually including regenerative braking, which stores energy back into the battery while slowing down, most electric automobiles During their trip, Team Evo India maintained its Tata Nexon EV in a second regeneration setting. For every day driving an EV, they considered level 3 too powerful; however, for downhill riding, it was ideal.
Manage Your Air Conditioning
The air conditioner runs mostly on batteries. Aiming at around 24 degrees strikes a decent mix between comfort and energy economy. Additional cooling is acceptable in really hot conditions; a few more kilometers are worth suffering. However, turning off the AC may provide you a further 20 to 30 kilometers of range in an emergency when your battery is very low.
Close the Sunroof
Keep your sunroof closed in hot weather if yours has one. Open sunroofs allow heat into the vehicle, which increases the effort of the air conditioner and battery consumption. If feasible, buy an EV without a sunroof for maximum efficiency.
Handling Challenging Situations
Though sometimes things happen differently, be ready for unanticipated issues.
Prepare for Power Cuts
In certain places the electricity supply is erratic. Sushil had power outages throughout his trip across Bihar that caused charging to take more time than intended. Plan additional time in your calendar for such delays.
Adjust Driving for Low Battery
Driving slower and turning off the AC can help you to prolong your range if you are low on battery and no charger is close by. Sushil had to slow down to 60 kmh and turn off the air conditioner while heading from Lucknow to Varanasi without quick chargers. With barely 1% of charge left, this let him get to his target.
Join Online EV Communities
Join other EV owners on Telegram via online groups like PlugIn India. These groups may assist when required and provide insightful knowledge regarding charging stations. Websites like as Plugshare enable customers write evaluations on charging stations, therefore enabling others to better prepare.
Conclusion
In India, driving electric car road journeys is getting simpler and more fun. You may drive great distances without concern with correct planning, appropriate applications, and wise driving tactics. Remember to maximize your charge time, control your pace, and plan your stops. EV road trips will only grow better as additional charging stations spring up all throughout the nation. Charge your car, map your route, and then enjoy the peaceful, clean journey only electric car can provide!
