How driving and charging choices affect EV range and costs

Speed and driving conditions

ABC Lifestyle has published advice from Australian EV and motoring specialists on getting more distance from a charge while limiting charging costs. The two questions are related but distinct: driving conditions determine how much electricity a trip uses, while the tariff and charger determine what replacement electricity costs. UK vehicle leasing company Zenith notes that an advertised WLTP range is a standardised test estimate; speed, temperature, gradients and load can change the distance achieved in use. ¹³

RACV motoring editor Terry Martin told the ABC that stop-start city driving gives an EV opportunities to recover energy as it slows, whereas sustained freeway driving uses charge more quickly. Electric Vehicle Council senior policy manager Bjorn Siem said slowing down is the most effective step if a driver is running low on charge during a long trip: he identified a reduction from 100km/h to 90km/h as making a substantial difference, without specifying a range gain applicable to every car. Carwow also identifies higher-speed aerodynamic drag as a significant influence on range. ¹⁴

Recovering energy without wasting it

Regenerative braking turns the motor into a generator when the vehicle slows, returning some energy to the battery. Australian Electric Vehicle Association technical convenor Michael Day explained the process to the ABC, while Siem described one-pedal driving as easing on and off the accelerator to manage speed. Canstar notes that the settings differ between vehicles: some require a one-pedal mode or a change to the regenerative-braking setting. The brake pedal remains available and should be used when needed. ¹²

Day also advised against repeatedly accelerating hard away from traffic lights. Siem recommended checking tyre pressures monthly and keeping them at the manufacturer’s specified level, because under-inflated tyres increase rolling resistance. Martin identified unnecessary cargo and roof racks as further demands on energy. Carwow separately recommends smooth acceleration and anticipation when slowing, along with removing loads and accessories that are not needed. ¹⁴

On longer drives, the specialists quoted by the ABC said cruise control or an eco mode can help avoid unnecessary changes in acceleration. Carwow likewise recommends cruise control on steady roads and says eco modes can adjust throttle response and climate-control use. Those measures address energy consumption; they do not change the price charged for each kilowatt-hour when the vehicle is plugged in. ¹⁴

What a charge costs

For charging costs, Day recommended using home solar when available or an electricity plan with cheaper rates at the times the car is plugged in. Canstar senior energy journalist Kevin Goh advises checking whether a household has a flat-rate or time-of-use tariff before scheduling charging. Canstar also says eligible households in New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia may be able to schedule charging during the Solar Sharer Offer’s three hours of free middle-of-the-day electricity. ¹²

Public charging prices vary with the charger and rate. Canstar illustrates the difference using 60kWh of electricity: at 45 cents per kWh, its example public AC charge costs $27; at 65 cents per kWh, its DC fast-charge example costs $39. These are calculations at assumed rates, not universal prices or a claim that every EV will accept 60kWh in one session. Canstar says some slower public AC chargers may cost less, or be free, while faster DC charging generally carries a convenience premium. ²

Battery care and trip planning

Preserving battery health over years is a different aim from maximising distance on a particular trip. Day told the ABC that most manufacturers recommend keeping the battery roughly between 20 and 80 per cent for routine use, with a higher charge when needed for a long journey. Canstar adds a battery-chemistry qualification: it recommends an 80 per cent daily target for nickel manganese cobalt packs, but says lithium iron phosphate packs are more tolerant of higher charge levels and may benefit from occasional full charges to calibrate the car’s range estimate. ¹²

Canstar favours slower AC charging for regular use rather than frequent DC fast charging. Trip planning also needs to account for conditions: Zenith identifies cold weather and uphill driving as factors that can reduce range, while Carwow says warming or cooling the cabin while the car is still plugged in can leave more battery energy for the drive. Carwow also points to heated seats and steering wheels as less energy-intensive ways to keep occupants warm than heating the entire cabin. The appropriate charging routine and available climate-control functions depend on the vehicle. ²³⁴