If you’re considering making the switch to an electric car, whether you want to be kinder to the environment when you are on the road or want to save money by not having to buy fuel every week or month, then there are a few lifestyle changes that you’re going to need to get used to.
Driving an electric car can be a lot of fun as they offer instant torque and smoother handling, with faster getting up to speed on the motorway due to the car’s ability to go from zero to sixty miles per hour in seconds.
In addition, driving an EV can also be much safer, as the centre of gravity is lower since the battery is located at the bottom of the car, and they will often be fitted with more safety features. When you drive an electric car, these are some driving habits you’ll need to get used to.
Regenerative Braking
One of the main changes you’ll need to get used to when you drive an EV, whether you buy one or go with electric car leasing, is regenerative braking. Electric cars use these braking systems not only to make the car safer and reduce the wear and tear on the braking components but to also preserve the range and keep the battery in good health.
When slowing the car down, instead of pressing the brake pedal, all you need to do is take your foot off the accelerator pedal. This generates electricity to put back into the battery, which ultimately allows you to drive for longer before you need to charge it again. This style of driving can take more time to get used to.
Longer Journeys
You may need to set off earlier if you are driving a long journey in your electric car as you may need to allow yourself time to charge mid-journey. Although there are now more and more electric cars with longer ranges becoming available these days, allowing you to travel around two hundred or even up to three hundred miles before you need to charge the battery, you may need to recharge your battery halfway if you are driving long-distance.
Since charging the battery of an electric car takes much longer compared to refilling the tank of an internal combustion engine car with petrol or diesel, you’ll need to factor in an extended break into your journeys.
Automatic Transmission
If you are used to driving a traditional car with a petrol or diesel engine, then getting used to the automatic transmission that comes as standard with an electric car might be something that takes some getting used to at the beginning.
When you are used to driving a manual car, it can take some time to get used to driving an automatic car. That being said, if you’ve been driving an automatic petrol or diesel car for a while, getting an electric car might not be such a big adjustment for you.
Differences in Maintenance
When you switch over to an electric car, another main thing you will need to spend some time getting used to is the differences in maintenance schedules. With an electric car, there’s not as much maintenance to be done in comparison to a traditional petrol or diesel engine car.
Since electric cars have fewer moving parts, there’s less need for regular maintenance tasks you would normally have to do with a traditional combustion engine car such as changing spark plugs and oil.
However, there are some additional tasks to do when you have an electric car, including battery maintenance. Your car will need regular battery servicing from a professional who specialises in it, and you’ll also need to have a yearly MOT conducted by a certified electric vehicle specialist.
More Planning Ahead
No matter where you are driving, owning or leasing an electric car will often require you to put in more careful planning when it comes to your journeys. When driving a traditional car, there’s not often a lot of planning involved since petrol stations tend to be easy to find and you’ll usually come across quite a few no matter where you are going.
On the other hand, electric car chargers aren’t quite as common, especially if you are driving through rural areas, so you will need to put more planning into your drives and routes if you are going to need to charge along the way. If you are not driving on motorways where most service stations now have EV chargers available, you will need to ensure that the route you take will have a charging point available for you to use.
With electric cars becoming more popular and new petrol and diesel cars set to be banned in the UK in 2030, it’s likely that driving an electric car is something that more drivers in the UK will be getting used to in the near future.
