Read for free until 1 pm
Going on vacation with an e-car: tips for long trips
Wolfsburg. Although the number of recordings is increasing, there are still enough reservations about electromobility. Many drivers are hesitant to go on long trips in their e-cars especially when it comes to holidays. For example, they are afraid of losing range due to high temperatures and a heavy load on the battery, for example from air conditioning. Spain’s Volkswagen subsidiary Cupra offers tips on how e-drivers can save their batteries on long trips and reach their destination in a relaxed state with pleasant interior temperatures.
Read more after the announcement
Read more after the announcement
1. Good for battery and environment: Pre-cooling inside
Car air conditioning puts a lot of pressure on the battery. Anyone who cools the car significantly while driving in high summer temperatures requires energy storage accordingly. The simplest scale: shaded parking spaces for electronic cars. For example under trees or in a parking garage. As a result, the internal part and the battery do not heat up to the same extent.
If you have a wall box available or you are parked at a charging station, there is a practical function that can help you: the desired temperature can be set before the start of the trip using constant air conditioning, which is standard on Cupra Born but also on VW models. Thanks to the related Connect apps, this can easily be done from the breakfast table. Then the car uses the wall box or charging station and does not use the battery. The result is a cool and pleasant car when you get in – the battery no longer has to do full air conditioning work indoors, it just has to keep it on.
Read more after the announcement
Read more after the announcement
The heat pump needs much less electricity than a classic air conditioning system, thus protecting the battery.
© Source: Cobra
2. Heat pump: support system
The heat pump is available as an option for Cupra Born and ID models. VW models can support air conditioning in both winter and summer. It uses much less electricity than a classic air conditioning system and thus protects the car battery. And this is how it works: a heat pump extracts air from its surroundings and feeds it into a circuit containing the refrigerant. The warm air is converted to cool air using a heat exchanger before it flows back into the vehicle.
3. Recovery: greater range through braking
Recovery is a technical process of energy recovery. Once you take your foot off the accelerator or even brake, the electric motor acts as a generator. The vehicle’s thrust and the effect of engine braking generate electrical energy that is stored in the battery. Advice for drivers of the VW group electronic car: the most effective energy recovery is achieved in driving mode B. However, when driving mode D is set and environmental assistance is activated, the car’s electronics determine the level of recovery – depending on the navigation data and traffic conditions.
/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/madsack/XE7KE26PRCDAMM6MVBT7FWPOPQ.jpg)
The right driving profile can help: in the Cupra Born there is a “Range” profile – optimized for long distances.
© Source: Sebastian Koch
Read more after the announcement
Read more after the announcement
In addition to the driving level, the selected driving mode can also help save energy. This can be selected through the corresponding buttons and / or menu in the infotainment system.
4. Appropriate tire pressure: save energy and increase safety
Checking tire pressures regularly – especially before long trips – can improve range. Proper pressure reduces rolling resistance and thus reduces energy consumption. There is a label in the B-pillar of the driver’s door that provides information about the correct inflation pressure for the vehicle. This is not the only advantage: the correct tire pressure also increases safety and tire service life.