Electric Vehicle Driving. Best practices and driver behavior

• HVAC Best Practices

HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) is a wonderful convenience in your commercial electric vehicle. However, it can be a significant draw on your High Voltage battery.

Here are a few best practices to use in order to minimize the draw that your Heating and Cooling will pull from your battery, and ultimately your range; or distance that your vehicle will go before needing a recharge:

1. Keep your cabin doors and cargo partition doors closed when using HVAC. If these are left open, then your EV will be working hard to heat (or cool) not only the cabin, but the whole rear of the vehicle as well.
2. Keep the HVAC fan to a lower setting to use less electricity, without compromising your comfort of course. 
3. Turn the vehicle off when you’re not in it so that it isn’t idling and needlessly heating or cooling the cab.
4. In brief, be wise with HVAC usage and keep it off when it can be off.

Pro tip: Precondition your cabin while plugged in. Many modern EVs allow you to set a departure time so the vehicle warms or cools the cabin before you unplug. This uses grid electricity instead of battery power, meaning you start your shift with a full charge and a comfortable cabin temperature. For EV owners who do regular cold weather routes, this single habit can meaningfully improve range without changing anything about how you drive.

Where possible, using seat heaters instead of full cabin heating also uses significantly less energy, a small habit that adds up over a full shift and helps extend battery life over time.

• Smooth Driving and Speed Management

Your driving style has a significant impact on energy consumption and driving range. Smooth driving habits are one of the proven strategies for EV drivers to maximize efficiency on every route.

• Accelerate gradually. Aggressive acceleration draws far more power from the battery compared to gentle acceleration. The smoother the start, the more energy efficient your driving becomes.
• Maintain moderate, steady speeds. Most EVs are most efficient at moderate speeds. Driving at higher speeds significantly increases aerodynamic drag, and energy use rises exponentially as speed increases. Reducing speed from 120 km/h to 100 km/h can add meaningful range on longer journeys.
• Use cruise control on the highway when conditions allow. Driving at a steady pace improves highway efficiency by eliminating unnecessary speed fluctuations.
• Activate Eco mode if your vehicle is equipped with it. Most modern EVs have an Eco mode that adjusts power delivery and climate control settings to prioritize energy efficiency during everyday driving. It is one of the easiest ways for any electric car driver to reach maximum efficiency without extra effort.
• Together, these driving habits improve your overall driving experience while making the most of every charge.
  
  

• Tire Pressure Maintenance

Tire pressure is a key factor in rolling resistance, which is the friction your tires create against the road. Underinflated tires increase rolling resistance, which forces your electric motor to work harder, can reduce range noticeably, and depletes your battery more quickly. Proper tire inflation can improve your EV's range by up to 3%, helping your electric car travel further on a single charge.

• Check tire pressure at least once a month, and always when tires are cold
• Keep tires inflated to the manufacturer's recommended PSI
• Low rolling resistance tires are designed to minimize energy loss and improve efficiency, worth considering when replacement time comes
• Reduce unnecessary weight. Every extra 100 pounds in the vehicle can reduce its range by approximately 1%, so avoid carrying unneeded cargo, equipment, or roof racks when not in use. Keeping systems like these in check helps maximize range on every route.

• Regenerative Braking.

To slow down, simply let go of the gas pedal without applying the brakes, unless you have no choice of course.

Your commercial electric vehicle is equipped with regenerative braking to be intended to be used when slowing down, when approaching a stop sign or a red light.

Regenerative braking captures the kinetic energy from braking and converts it into the electrical power that charges the vehicle’s high voltage battery. Regenerative braking slows the car down, which assists the use of traditional brakes. The less you use the brakes, the better. The vehicle will begin to gradually stop by merely releasing the accelerator pedal.

You will likely find that with a bit of practice, you’ll become better and better at utilizing this important benefit.

Many EVs allow you to adjust the level of regenerative braking. At its strongest setting, this is sometimes called one-pedal driving, where the vehicle slows significantly from the electric motor alone without needing to press the brake pedal. Anticipating stops early and gradually decelerating is the most effective way to maximize energy recovery back into the battery.

• Route Planning.

Highway driving, route elevation, outdoor temperature, charging stations.

When planning your route for the day with your Commercial Electric Vehicle, keep in mind the following variables:

1. Highway driving – Highway driving at high speeds will deplete the battery. More so as there are not many braking events, meaning no charging the battery using regenerative braking. This will lessen your range expectations. When driving on the highway, do not exceed the speed limit (going over 100km/h will drain the battery significantly).
2. Changes in elevation – Driving uphill is an extra draw on your high voltage battery as the motor is working harder. You can make some of this energy back when going downhill via the regenerative braking system.
3. Ambient temperature – Although some commercial vehicles come equipped with extra battery protection which could include battery heaters/coolers, extreme ambient temperatures can affect your EV battery performance.
4. Charging Stations – Keeping these things in mind as well as the weight of your freight, have a look for charging stations along the route. It may be a good idea to stop and charge. Perhaps during your lunch break, the vehicle can get a quick charge.

There are websites, apps, memberships and so on, to help you locate where all of the public charging stations are.

Trip planning that accounts for all these variables and prioritizes efficient routes will make a meaningful difference in your driving range and overall EV experience.

As you know, an EV vehicle is different from an ICE vehicle (Internal combustion engine). Following these tips and thinking ahead, will make a world of difference in your EV experience.

• Battery Health and Charging Practices

Taking care of your EV battery is one of the most important habits for long-term performance. Regardless of battery size, these practices apply to all commercial EVs and help maintain optimal performance over the vehicle's lifespan. A few simple habits preserve battery longevity and protect battery life in the long run.

• Charge to around 80% for everyday driving. Charging an EV to 80% and avoiding dropping below 20% is widely recommended to preserve battery health and slow long-term capacity loss. Most EVs allow you to set a charging limit directly in the vehicle's settings.
• Limit fast charging when possible. Fast charging is useful on longer journeys, but frequent fast charging generates heat that stresses battery cells over time. Rely on standard charging for your regular routine where you can.
• Park indoors during extreme temperatures. Both cold and heat stress EV battery cells and reduce available range. Parking in a covered garage when possible helps maintain optimal battery temperature and protects battery longevity.
• For long-term storage, charge the battery to around 50% and leave the vehicle plugged in if your charging system supports it. This protects battery cells during extended periods without use.

DO YOU HAVE AN ISSUE THAT REQUIRES FURTHER ASSISTANCE?

Please, do not hesitate to contact us trough:

• 7Gen Customer Support Portal. By clicking here you can find instructions on how to create an account within our support center. 
• Email: support@7gen.com
• Call:  +1 855 743 6938 (+1-855-7GENZEV)