Is the driving range of electric vehicles sufficient for long drives or trips?
Contrary to popular belief, electric vehicles are perfectly suited for long trips. Fast-charging stations, particularly along highway networks, have expanded significantly in recent years, as has fast charging on public roads. The charging network has also become more reliable as usage rates have increased.
For most drivers, especially those who follow road safety recommendations by taking a break every two hours, travelling long distances in an electric vehicle is not much slower than in a combustion-powered vehicle. For example, with the Scenic E-Tech electric, you can recover 15% to 80% battery range from a 30-minute charge.*
To optimise battery life and charging times, we recommend:
1. Charging your vehicle to 100% at home before a long trip: The cost of charging at home is up to three times lower than when charging while on the go. In addition, during the winter, charging times at fast-charging stations may be longer if the battery is cold.
2. Use the vehicle’s built-in trip planner (for electric vehicles with Google built-in ¹) which optimises stops and charging times according to external conditions, driving style (motorways, main roads, minor roads, topography), and the planned travel speed. Using the route planner also allows the battery to be preheated (useful in winter) about 30 minutes before arriving at the charging station, bringing it up to the optimal temperature to maximise charging efficiency.
3. Speed plays an important role in energy consumption and range. Reducing your speed to 68 mph on the motorway can help you get more range out of your vehicle.
4. In winter, it's better to use the heated seats and steering wheel ² rather than the heater, which uses more energy.
5. In winter or summer, when it's very cold or very hot, use the vehicle’s preconditioning feature (set the optimal cabin temperature on the dashboard or on My Renault ³) while charging the vehicle at home, rather than turning the heater or air conditioning all the way up when you’re ready to leave (since bringing the cabin up to temperature consumes a lot of energy).
*at an average speed of 68 mph. Equivalent to 208 miles based on the WLTP cycle.
¹ To download apps from Google Play, you must enter a Google account in your profile on openR link. Use of downloaded apps requires a dedicated data plan. You can share your smartphone's connection with your car. Google, Google Maps, Google News, Waze and other marks are trademarks of Google LLC. Data plan and connective services standard period with purchase of a vehicle may differ depending on when the vehicle was built, therefore, please refer to your local Retailer for full details.
² Depending on model and version
³ To use My Renault app you need a smartphone with compatible iOS or Android operating system. Download the free My Renault app and create an account. Synchronise or pair My Renault to your vehicle. Synchronising or pairing should only be done when the car is parked safely. Services may be subject to mobile network coverage and additional charges. Users should follow road safety regulations when using the services and always be in control of the vehicle. For further information, visit My Renault.
Contrary to popular belief, electric vehicles are perfectly suited for long trips. Fast-charging stations, particularly along highway networks, have expanded significantly in recent years, as has fast charging on public roads. The charging network has also become more reliable as usage rates have increased.
For most drivers, especially those who follow road safety recommendations by taking a break every two hours, travelling long distances in an electric vehicle is not much slower than in a combustion-powered vehicle. For example, with the Scenic E-Tech electric, you can recover 15% to 80% battery range from a 30-minute charge.*
To optimise battery life and charging times, we recommend:
1. Charging your vehicle to 100% at home before a long trip: The cost of charging at home is up to three times lower than when charging while on the go. In addition, during the winter, charging times at fast-charging stations may be longer if the battery is cold.
2. Use the vehicle’s built-in trip planner (for electric vehicles with Google built-in ¹) which optimises stops and charging times according to external conditions, driving style (motorways, main roads, minor roads, topography), and the planned travel speed. Using the route planner also allows the battery to be preheated (useful in winter) about 30 minutes before arriving at the charging station, bringing it up to the optimal temperature to maximise charging efficiency.
3. Speed plays an important role in energy consumption and range. Reducing your speed to 68 mph on the motorway can help you get more range out of your vehicle.
4. In winter, it's better to use the heated seats and steering wheel ² rather than the heater, which uses more energy.
5. In winter or summer, when it's very cold or very hot, use the vehicle’s preconditioning feature (set the optimal cabin temperature on the dashboard or on My Renault ³) while charging the vehicle at home, rather than turning the heater or air conditioning all the way up when you’re ready to leave (since bringing the cabin up to temperature consumes a lot of energy).
*at an average speed of 68 mph. Equivalent to 208 miles based on the WLTP cycle.
¹ To download apps from Google Play, you must enter a Google account in your profile on openR link. Use of downloaded apps requires a dedicated data plan. You can share your smartphone's connection with your car. Google, Google Maps, Google News, Waze and other marks are trademarks of Google LLC. Data plan and connective services standard period with purchase of a vehicle may differ depending on when the vehicle was built, therefore, please refer to your local Retailer for full details.
² Depending on model and version
³ To use My Renault app you need a smartphone with compatible iOS or Android operating system. Download the free My Renault app and create an account. Synchronise or pair My Renault to your vehicle. Synchronising or pairing should only be done when the car is parked safely. Services may be subject to mobile network coverage and additional charges. Users should follow road safety regulations when using the services and always be in control of the vehicle. For further information, visit My Renault.
