How to Prepare for an Electric Vehicle Road Trip
From the Cabot Trail to the Valley, Nova Scotians love a road trip. We’ve all got our favourite snack stops and rest areas, but how do you fit an electric vehicle (EV) into the mix? The answer—easily!
You’ll need to make a few changes to your routine, but with this helpful guide and some advice from the experts and Next Ride, you’ll be ready for your first EV road trip.
What should you download before you go?
Assuming you’ve already stocked up on podcast and Spotify downloads, you’re the next essential app for an EV road trip in Nova Scotia is PlugShare. According to Colin Robar, one of our Electric Vehicle Engagement Specialists, it is one of the most useful apps available. It allows users to find level 2 and level 3 chargers, read reviews for reliability and check-in when you are using a charger to show others that it’s occupied.
Robar also recommendations the following apps:
- Flo – Essential for charging at the many Flo chargers around the province.
- ChargePoint – Also used for paying at chargers.
- A Better Route Planner – A mapping app that takes your EV’s range into account.
Do you need to change your driving style?
When on a longer road trip in an EV, there are a few things you can do to help manage your range and have a more comfortable drive.
Driving smoothly and accelerating consistently can help to conserve your range and use energy efficiently. It’s also best to avoid driving at high speeds, as the faster you go, the quicker your EV’s range drops. Using cruise control can help you maintain a safe and consistent speed.
“
How can you stay warm in winter without losing efficiency?
EVs don’t produce as much waste heat as internal combustion engines, so they have to work harder to produce warm air for the cabin. Evan Crossman, a Clean Transportation Support Office, recommends preconditioning your vehicle before a winter road trip.
Crossman shares that there are two types of preconditioning that can help with comfort and efficiency on an EV road trip:
- Battery preconditioning: This optimizes vehicle performance and boosts your EV’s range by warming the battery to its most effective operating temperature.
- Cabin preconditioning: This setting allows your car to heat the cabin while it’s still charging. You can set the timing in the car’s menu so it’s all toasty and warm just in time for your departure.
Once you’re on the road, the most efficient way to stay warm is with the heated seats and steering wheel, rather than the cabin air.
Learn more
Ready for an EV road trip of your own? Check out what our transportation team has to offer.
What a Summer for Clean Leaders!
As summer transitions into fall, we're excited to share some of our Clean Leaders’ experiences as we wrap up our Clean Leadership Summer Internships program. This year, we had an exceptional group of Clean Leaders who have been actively exploring employment...
Spotlight on Yellow Birch
Discover the Wabanaki-Acadian Forest with Thriving Forests Spotlight on Yellow birch - Betula alleghaniensis – mnnoqon Through Thriving Forests program, we will delve into the Wabanaki-Acadian Forest by spotlighting various tree species each month to understand the...
How to keep your home cool in the summer heat
While we all look forward to the warm summer months, the same sun that makes for a fun day at the beach or lake can also make our homes uncomfortable. To find out which home cooling tips and techniques are the most effective for our homes, we asked the experts from...
Recent Comments