How can I Improve the Efficiency and Range on My Ford Electric Vehicle?

Just like in petrol or diesel-fuelled cars, the range of electric vehicles can be affected by a few factors. This articles lists a number of good practices to help optimise the battery and range on your electric vehicle.

Optimising your Driving Experience

Follow these tips for a driving experience aimed towards range optimisation:

High speeds and heavy acceleration use more power and reduce range, so you will get more miles out of your potential range by travelling at a steady speed, and accelerating gradually.
Extreme hot or cold weather conditions affect batteries and can reduce range. Heating or cooling the inside of your vehicle will also draw extra energy from your battery. We would recommend adjusting the inside temperature of your vehicle, while it is still plugged into the charger.
Regenerative braking can capture and reuse more than 90% of the energy normally lost during the braking process. This in turn recharges the high-voltage battery and maximises your range. Try to predict traffic situations ahead to optimise braking for maximum energy recuperation.
Accessory loads could result in more power being used including cabin heaters, heated seats, and AC compressor.

Optimising your Battery and Charging Experience

Batteries have an optimal operating temperature, and they heat and cool themselves to achieve it. They have to power everything that you switch on, so everything you do to reduce the power needed will improve your battery output.
There are many ways you can help to optimise battery performance in your electric car during cold weather:

Pre-heat your car while it is charging, before you leave.
Remove any snow to get rid of extra weight affecting the range..
Use the heated seats and steering wheel rather than heating up the entire cabin.
Drive economically at a steady speed that is not high, with gentle acceleration and braking. This will improve the range of your vehicle.
Maximise the power recovered through regenerative braking, by braking gradually when possible.
Connect your electric car to an external power source whenever it is parked. This keeps the system warm from an external source, while your vehicle recharges.
Use heated front and rear screens to clear and keep windows clear.

Note: This takes less energy than heating them from the air inside the cabin.
Use climate recirculation mode and non-defrost mode, when safe to do so. This way you are heating the already warmed air in the cabin, rather than the cold outside air.
Check the tyre pressure to adjust for the cold temperatures.

Additional Information

Range Guide
Charging at Home
Charging on The Go
Learn More about WLTP
Dynamic Charging
Wallbox Installation Partners