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How to increase the electric car range?

Do you want to improve your electric car’s range? Discover the challenges and solutions to get maximum mileage from your electric car.

How can I increase the range of my electric car?

There are four optimisation points to improve your electric car range:

Adopt a smooth, anticipatory driving style

The most important factor affecting the average distance an electric car can go is known as eco-driving.

Eco-driving is the style of driving that is the number one way to optimise energy consumption, both in the way the driver accelerates and decelerates. Someone who regularly speeds up quickly and brakes sharply will have less range than a driver with a smoother driving style.

Speed is also a factor. Range varies depending on whether you’re driving inner-city, in the suburbs or on the highway. The faster you drive, the quicker you use up range.

Keep up to date with vehicle maintenance

If there’s one thing to remember, it’s that the electric car’s range  also involves seasonal care, keeping an eye on the pressure of your tyres and on the wheel alignment.

For example, winter can directly affect your electric car range: when it gets cold, depending on your battery chemistry the battery range tends to decrease. Below zero degrees, the range can be affected. 

The pressure of your electric car tyres is also a significant factor that affects the average distance an electric car can go. Driving with under-inflated tyres will result in unnecessary electricity consumption, as the tyres require more energy to roll. In addition, that incorrectly inflated tyres can lead to premature wear and tear.

Know more about how and when to check your tyre pressure.

Remove unnecessary load and drag

Range depends on the load the vehicle is carrying: the more weight you have inside a car, the more energy is needed to move it. There’s inevitably a loss of range as a result. So, check that you’re not carrying around unnecessary weight in the boot!

Aerodynamics also come into play here. Roof racks, bicycle carriers and other external accessories can add drag, increasing energy consumption and reducing range. For optimal electric car efficiency, remove any unnecessary external accessories to maximise your electric car range on everyday journeys.

Fit your vehicle with suitable tyres for your electric car

As with any other car, fitting suitable tyres to your EV can make the difference in terms of battery range. Why ? Because the tyres have a key role to play, especially through what we call the rolling resistance. When you want a tyre to roll, it has to dissipate a bit of energy, and this small amount of dissipated energy eats away at the battery’s range. To put it simply: the lower the rolling resistance, the more range you can get out of your electric vehicle.

At Michelin, rolling resistance is at the heart of the design of our car tyres :

In other words, any Michelin tyre with the right dimensions for your car will optimise rolling resistance and therefore improve your battery life.

If you don't know which tyre to choose, ask yourself what your driving style is :

  • If you favour comfort and safety, MICHELIN Primacy family will be a viable option in your case. In the premium replacement tyre market MICHELIN e·Primacy, can for example increase your range by an estimated 7% or around 30 km for a vehicle with a range of 400 km vs other tyres of its category(1)(2).

  • For a sportier driving, MICHELIN Pilot Sport family will be a suitable choice. For your high-performance electric vehicle, MICHELIN Pilot Sport EV can provide up to 60km of additional range(3)

       
 

How do you know which tyres offer the best rolling resistance?

How can you find the most suitable electric car tyres for your vehicle?
Well, in some countries, like in Europe (and soon China), there is a specific label – like the sticker you’d find on a fridge, for example. On this label, “A class” means the lowest rolling resistance. So, if you were to compare “A class” tyres with “C class” tyres, you’d get more range from the former.

Legal mentions

LEGAL MENTIONS:

(1) - MICHELIN e·PRIMACY category of tyres is defined as one of the Premium summer tyres such as CONTINENTAL, GOODYEAR, BRIDGESTONE, PIRELLI, DUNLOP brands, and which are not dedicated to Original Equipment application (i.e. not designed to achieve car manufacturers specific targets) but tyres that can be purchased from retailers.

 

(2) - Increased EV battery range and CO₂ reduction - When new, MICHELIN e·PRIMACY generates 2kg/t on average Rolling Resistance less than competitors, equivalent in fuel consumption reduction of up to 0.21l/100km, equivalent of a gain in CO₂ emission up to 5g  for a VW Golf 7 1.5 TSI or equivalent of gain of up to 7% in autonomy for a VW e.Golf.

 

(3) - Rolling Resistance internal study conducted in 10/2020, on dimension 255/45 R19, comparing MICHELIN Pilot Sport EV (6.7kg/t) versus MICHELIN Pilot Sport 4 SUV (8.8kg/t). For an electrical vehicle of a mass 2151kg, with an autonomy of 540km, this gap of 2.1kg/t drives to a gain of autonomy of more than 60km, or more than 10% of the initial range.