By now, it’s well known that electric vehicles (EVs) usually come with a lower total cost of ownership (TCO) than internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, making them a cost-efficient choice for many drivers. Nevertheless, with electricity prices rising, recharging your EV battery might leave you paying more than expected.
So, the question is: how can you reduce your charging costs while still making sure you have enough juice to get from A to B? Our LeasePlan EV experts have some ideas…
1. Look after your battery
The longer you can conserve power in your battery, the less you’ll need to charge it! It may sound obvious, but range optimisation is the first step towards a cheaper charging bill. And there are two main ways to go about it.
First, aim to drive in a battery-efficient way. That includes everything from using regenerative braking to not accelerating too fast, and even to making sure your tyres are at the right pressure for optimum energy efficiency.
Second, look after your battery’s health. It’s wise to try and keep it at between 20% and 80% of its full charge capacity as much as possible. If you have a garage, you can also prolong your battery’s lifespan by keeping your EV inside, protecting it from extreme high and low temperatures.
2. Charge for free where you can…
The saying goes that there’s no such thing as a free lunch, but you might be able to get a free charge while you buy your lunch! Many supermarkets in different countries offer free charging stations to their customers – so consider making use of these facilities whenever you stock up on groceries. Just be careful to check for usage limitations to avoid any unwanted penalties.
… and at off-peak rates where you can’t
During off-peak hours – usually overnight – electricity demand is lower, and the cost is cheaper. Check your provider’s off-peak times and tariffs and try to plug in accordingly!
3. Think slow and steady
Fast-charging stations can come in extremely useful when you’re on the road, but if you aren’t in a rush to recharge, power up your EV from a slow-charging point instead. They use less electricity and are therefore the cheaper option, especially for home charging.
Electric driving is still the cost-efficiency champion
Even with higher electricity costs hitting hard, there’s no need to think twice about making the switch from ICE to EV: when you take into account the TCO comparisons and the costs of petrol and diesel, EVs still come out on top. By following the above advice and doing a bit of smart planning, EV drivers can get into good habits that will add up to valuable cost savings when it comes to battery charging. After all, every little helps!