How to Drive an Electric Car: Everything You Need To Know

Charging an Electric Car

Locate your car’s charging port. The electrical charging port may be in one of several places, depending on the model. On many vehicles, it can be found on the rear left or right panel where the gas tank would ordinarily be. Other cars have their ports situated just in front of the driver’s side door or built into the hood. It’s important to know where your car’s charging port is (and how to access it) before you get out on the road. If you’re not sure where to find the charging port on a particular model, flip through the owner’s manual that came with the vehicle.

Unlock the charging port. You can usually gain access to the charging port by pressing a button or pulling a small lever on the center console. The charging port release might also be found on the dash or driver’s side door panel, in some models. Don’t forget to close the port once again when you’re done charging your vehicle. It should lock itself automatically.

Plug the charging cord into the port. Once you’ve opened up the charging port, you should see a faceplate with 3 regularly-spaced holes in the center. Insert the prongs of the charging cord into the holes to begin giving your car some juice. Exact charging times will vary depending on the current level of your vehicle’s battery and the charging level you’re using. Charging levels (usually denominated into Level 1, Level 2, and "fast charging") refer the the amount of voltage being directed into the battery. It takes roughly 7-8 hours of charging to take a battery from empty to full with Level 1 charging. With Level 2 charging, charging times drop to about 4 hours, while fast charging can take as little as 30 minutes. You'll know your car's battery is finished charging when the battery indicator on the dashboard display is full.

Charge your electric car at home or on the go. If you decide to purchase your own electric car, you’ll be able to take advantage of Level 1 (120v AC current) or Level 2 (240v AC) charging by plugging your car up to a nearby wall outlet. Most public charging stations make fast charging (DC current, about 500v) available so drivers can get back on the road in less time. The length of your daily commute, access to outlets in your usual parking area, and availability of public charging stations are all important factors to consider when deciding which model of electric car is right for you. Use sites like PlugShare and ChargeHub to locate a charging station in the immediate vicinity anytime you’re away from home.

Operating an Electric Car

Push the “Start” button to turn on the car. With your foot on the brake, simply press in the “Start” button located beside the steering column. The central display screen will light up, and you may hear a faint whirring sound as the engine comes to life. Your vehicle may not start successfully if the battery is below a certain level. The minimum battery level needed to start the car will vary depending on the exact model and battery type. You’ll turn off the car the same way once you’ve reached your destination. Make sure the parking brake is disengaged before you put the car in motion.

Familiarize yourself with the various drive settings. While most electric cars operate on a single speed, they often feature other settings designed to give you more control over your driving experience. These include sport modes for sustained acceleration and different speed-limiting and braking functions that help conserve battery life. In most electric cars, you can switch between drive settings using a paddle shifter found next to the steering wheel or console. Hybrid vehicles typically make use of the same gears as conventional internal combustion engine vehicles—Park (P), Reverse (R), Neutral (N), Drive (D), and Low (L).

Press down gently on the accelerator to begin driving. Unlike regular motors, electric vehicles generate torque nearly instantaneously, which means it won’t take much to get moving. If it’s your first time driving an electric car, start off slow and increase your speed little by little until you feel comfortable building to full acceleration in a short distance. It may take a few outings before you get used to the improved acceleration of an electric car if you’re used to driving a conventional car or truck. More responsive acceleration is especially useful for city driving, where you’ll often be dealing with stop-and-go traffic. Electric cars have a lot of pickup at acceleration. In fact, the smallest electric car can go from zero to sixty in a quicker time than a big engine. You should not press down too hard on the accelerator because you may accidentally bump into something.

Brake smoothly to preserve your vehicle’s battery life. In most cases, you can simply remove your foot from the accelerator and the car will gradually come to a stop. If you need to reduce your speed suddenly, apply light pressure to the brake pedal. Avoid mashing the brakes or coming to an abrupt halt as much as possible, as this only makes your car less efficient. Electric cars use a revolutionary braking system known as “regenerative braking,” which means that each time you slow down, a small amount of energy is captured and redirected back into the battery. Learning to brake fluidly will not only improve your car’s potential range, but also the lifespan of its friction brakes (if equipped).

Watch out for other drivers on the road. Electric cars are incredibly quiet—so quiet, in fact, that the people around you might not hear you coming. This means that you’ll need to be extra careful while driving. Pay attention to what’s going on around you at all times and be prepared to slow down or stop at a moment’s notice. Turn your lights on as soon as it gets dark to make yourself easier to see. Always slow down when passing cyclists and pedestrians, and consider honking or flashing your lights to let them know that you’re approaching.

Maximizing Your Electric Car’s Driving Range

Understand the 3 main charging levels. Level 1 charging offers 120v of power, and will get you 2-4 miles of driving range per charging hour. Level 2 provides 240v (which requires an outlet with the same wiring as a stove or clothes dryer), and up to 25 miles per hour. Fast Charging uses direct current (DC) to restore the vehicle’s battery to 80-100% power in as little as half an hour. Level 1 and Level 2 charging are the slowest but most convenient charging options, as they can be accessed using most standard wall outlets. This is how you’ll charge your electric car the majority of the time. Fast charging is typically only available at dedicated charging stations, but these sites are common enough for you to usually be able to find one when you need it.

Charge your vehicle between uses. Take a look at the battery indicator on the dashboard display to see how much power your car has left. Once it gets down to about 30-40%, start thinking about heading home or finding the nearest public charging station. Keep in mind that it may take as long as 10-15 hours to completely recharge a standard mid-range vehicle. When planning longer trips, always factor your car’s maximum range into your travel distance to determine how many stops you’ll need to make along the way. Always disconnect your car from the charger as soon as you’re done charging, if possible. Leaving it plugged up after it reaches 100% places a lot of strain on the battery. Over time, this can actually reduce its total capacity. Sites like PlugShare and ChargeHub make it easy to track down the closest charging station anytime you’re away from home.

Limit your use of unnecessary features. All of the car’s electronic systems, including the stereo, heat and air, and communication and navigation apps draw their power directly from the battery. This means that the more you use them, the less ground you’ll be able to cover before your next charge. For this reason, it’s best to use your electric car as a means of getting from place to place rather than as a luxury automobile. Since amenities like the radio and air conditioning are so taxing on its sole power source, your electric car might not make the best vehicle for road trips.

Avoid prolonged exposure to extreme temperatures. Intense heat and cold can be a major drain on the battery, but so can running the heat or A/C at full blast. To get the most out of each charge, take a look at the weather forecast and dress accordingly. Bundle up on cold days, and wear short sleeves and roll the windows down once temperatures begin to climb. If possible, keep your electric car in a climate-controlled garage when you’re not driving it. Not only will this slow down wear to the battery, it will also keep the cabin at a comfortable temperature so you won’t have to run the heat or A/C the next time you get behind the wheel. Cold has a much more negative effect on battery life than heat. In fact, freezing conditions can reduce your electric car’s overall range by 20-30%.