The electric cars are living their best. In large part, thanks to the improvement in indicators on autonomy and load times; also because manufacturers have shown that these cars can be as safe as internal combustion vehicles. These factors, added to the measures adopted by France and United Kingdom, in the sense of prohibiting the circulation of internal combustion cars, as of January 1, 2040, make many drivers think that, in the near future, these cars they will definitely replace gasoline, gas or diesel engines. With the growth of electric vehicles roaming the European streets, the question that arises is: how to drive an electric car efficiently?
Tips for efficiently driving an electric car
One of the peculiarities of electric cars is that they deliver all their power from scratch. They are different from internal combustion vehicles that provide a wide range of speeds, according to the revolutions that progressively reaches the engine. This means that even the best petrol or diesel sports cars are overtaken during the first few meters of an electric car. So our first recommendation to drive an electric car efficiently is: be careful with the accelerator! For more details check out on jeep wrangler car cover waterproof.
Plan trips according to autonomy
Autonomy in internal combustion vehicles is not a problem. We must recognize that this continues to be a deficiency in electric cars, which is progressively being overcome by manufacturers. The average autonomy offered by electric cars is 200 kilometers, which can be increased if the ECO driving mode is used, and energy consumption is optimized, rationalizing the use of air conditioning, for example. With an autonomy of 200 kilometers, and if we take into account that the average Spanish driver travels 63 kilometers a day, this issue would not seem to be a problem. However, when undertaking long trips, the recommendation is to plan the trip and establish before leaving the points where it can be recharged.
Learn to slow down and slow down
Electric cars are equipped with energy recovery systems. These systems charge the battery, inverting the operation of the motor, converting it into a generator during the deceleration phases. Each time we release the accelerator, the energy regeneration system comes into operation, exerting a deceleration force similar to that which occurs in a gasoline car when we step on the brake, using a system of energy regeneration with that objective, which allows recovering some charge for the batteries. Our recommendation: If you stop, try to do it for a long time, so it is very important to be aware of the traffic and foresee the following movements.
Electric car slow and decelerate
Electric cars house batteries under the passenger compartment, on the ground. This makes the center of gravity of the car unusually low. The electric car is much more dynamic and with less inertia. This is especially noticeable when taking curves at high speed, or when braking. In situations of risk, the vehicle offers predictable options, which makes it very safe.
Use air conditioning intelligently
Air conditioning is one of the elements that consumes the most energy in an electric car. As we have already noted, this is especially important if we take up the issue of the autonomy of the car. The drivers, of all types of cars, we usually use the air conditioning in excess. This is something that can be solved with some will power. If the ambient temperature is not very high, but we want to reduce it a bit inside the car, let’s use the windows. The electric cars allow to activate the air conditioning system, while the battery is being charged. This allows that from the moment we approach the car, the temperature inside is optimal, and we do not need to consume energy from the recently charged battery for a good period of time.
Charge time
The charging time of the batteries is another of the points against which for now the drivers of electric cars must avoid. The load can be carried out in two ways: in charging points exclusively for that function or in any electrical outlet at home. At a charging point, a battery charges 100% of its capacity in a period ranging from an hour and a half to two hours. If you decide to charge in the power socket of your house, the time increases to eight hours. This, of course, is a very important factor to take into account when planning daily activities or a long trip.
Conclusion
Driving an electric car efficiently is easy. With regard to the driving of an internal combustion car, the most important thing is to be careful with the acceleration, since from zero you get the maximum power. The way of braking and the optimization of the energy resources of the car complete the recommendations to ensure an efficient driving that allows obtaining the maximum performance and a long life of the car. Aquaplaning – What it is, how to prevent it and how to act when it occurs Aquaplaning is a phenomenon that represents a serious danger for drivers who drive in the rain. This event, which is not only caused by the excess water in the road, as we will see later, is the cause of many accidents with fatalities during the winter. That is why today we have dedicated this space to inform our readers about this phenomenon, its causes, how to prevent it and, above all, how to act when they are already immersed in aquaplaning to minimize the damage and protect the lives of passengers.
Aquaplaning – What are its causes?
There is no better way to eliminate a risk than knowing its origin. Understanding the causes of a problem makes it much easier to eliminate it. Aquaplaning is not the exception. Aquaplaning is a phenomenon of physics that makes a car that travels on a smooth and wet road, floats like a surfer on a wave, causing the driver to lose control of the vehicle, which, at a high speed, represents a serious danger to the occupants of the car. Aquaplaning is not produced by chance, but by the conjunction of a series of factors. Excess water on the road is not enough for aquaplaning to occur. Let’s see what are the necessary elements for a car to enter an aquaplaning:
A layer of water on the road.
A car at a speed exceeding 70 kilometers per hour.
The weight of the car
Tires without drawing.
Lack of inflation pressure.
We have five factors of which we have no control over two of them: the weight of the car, and the level of water on the road. But we can control the speed, the condition of our tires and the pressure of them. But let’s not get ahead of the subject of aquaplaning prevention. Let’s understand before how this physical phenomenon occurs.
Aquaplaning – why is it produced?
When the tire channels are shallow, or do not exist, you can not evacuate all the water. When we travel at a low speed, the water has an opportunity to escape even when the channels of the tire drawing are shallow, since we provide enough time to do so. A heavy car, on the other hand, will stick strongly to the ground and will hardly float. The shallower the channels of the tire, and the wider they are, the more likely the car will float on wet ground.
Aquaplaning – How to avoid it?
A car immersed in an aquaplaning behaves as if it were flying. Once we are in an aquaplaning we have no other option than to maneuver in such a way that its effects are minimized. But what we can do is take preventive measures to avoid it. Which? … let’s see:
Car maintenance: shock absorbers and tires are the two elements that have the greatest impact on the probability of falling into an aquaplaning. Tires with deep grooves, well inflated, with sufficient pressure and shock absorbers in perfect condition, ostensibly reduce the possibility of aquaplaning. The speed: if it starts to rain, and we know that our car is light, the tires are worn, they are wide and the shock absorbers do not pass at the best moment, the most prudent thing is not to exceed a speed of 50 kilometers per hour.
Observe the road carefully: a road is not always wet as a result of rain. If you see that areas appear on the asphalt that shine, surely it is puddles caused by causes other than rain, or are the result of a downpour that already happened. In any case, if you think that one or more of the risk factors are present in your vehicle, the speed drops or the wet area dodges. Do not slow down Nor should you accelerate to pass faster. Both are measures that will have dire consequences. The first thing you should do is hold the steering wheel with a lot of force and try to maintain a straight line direction, at a constant speed. Keeping calm is essential to get out of this phenomenon unscathed. But that does not mean that you are not aware that an impact is a real and imminent possibility. Glue your head on the headrest and for no reason let go of the steering wheel. Remember that braking or accelerating are actions that will cause the vehicle to be thrown in any direction and end up leaving the road. Generally, the phenomenon of aquaplaning manages to keep the car in the air for very few seconds, in which the car unfortunately will travel many meters. Road safety is one of the main objectives that Leaseplan pursues with the publications in this space. Aquaplaning is an unfortunate event that causes many deaths on the roads, especially in winter. If these topics are of your interest, we invite you to subscribe to our News Letter or contact one of our advisors to expand this information. Until next time.
