How to Get the Most from your EV

The most important thing to know about owning an EV is the basics of an EV battery. Knowing these will help you extend your EVs battery life. As with most things in this life, the better condition your battery is in, the better it will perform. Without caring for it, its condition will wane over time, and it will not be able to provide you with its maximum range. Think of your EVs battery the same as your phone’s battery. Just like a smartphone battery, to avoid any battery deterioration, you should avoid charging it up to 100% every time you charge it, as overcharging can lead to cell damage over time and reduce its range. An exception to this, of course, is when you’re preparing for a longer trip, in which case you may want to start at 100%. In most cases, experienced EV owners will recommend that you wait until the battery reaches between 10 and 20% life left before plugging in. Once plugged in, it’s recommended to leave the battery at around 80% to provide enough range for everyday driving while still keeping the battery in good health. 

As EVs become more popular, so do EV smartphone apps. There are a wide array of apps out there, each with different specialties and uses. Many manufacturers offer their own app to link with EVs, like Jeep’s Uconnect app. A manufacturer app will give you access to your EVs charge status, range, and other important information in great detail. While this is important knowledge, having apps like ChargePoint, EVGo, ChargeHub, and others will show you the charging stations nearest you. Other apps can even show help you plan a road trip by showing you charging stations along your route and even hotels that offer charging stations. Many apps will allow you to filter your search by type of charger connection, area, and network. It is important to plan an EV road trip ahead of time based on your vehicle’s range and where you can plug in along the route. Apps like Google Maps can help with this. 

Whether a vehicle is powered by gas, electricity, or both, more energy is burned with more weight. Experienced EV owners will tell you that keeping your vehicle’s load light will help increase your range and put less strain on the battery. It’s understandable that if you’re taking a road trip, you’ll most likely take on some extra weight due to suitcases and other items. However, for your everyday travels, be mindful of what’s necessary and what can be removed for that day. This will help lighten your vehicle and relieve your battery of any extra strain.

Owning an EV is being part of a community, a group of people who will be happy to help another, especially a newcomer to the EV community. This is why you will find a wide range of online forums and EV groups that bring EV owners together to share experiences and give advice. With a quick search, you can find forums as broad as electric vehicles or as focused as specific makes and models. These are great places for you to learn more about your vehicle and get answers to your questions from real owners. 

Getting into a plug-in hybrid is a great way to make the transition from gas to electric. Here at Kufleitner Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, we have an array of new PHEV models in stock for you to choose from, including the Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe and Jeep Wrangler 4xe. Check out our new Jeep PHEV inventory right here on our website. When you’re ready, come to our showroom and take the 4xe of your choosing for a test drive. We hope to see you soon!