Range of electric cars: Everything you want to know

When we talk about electric cars, the range is often mentioned. But what is that really? And why is a range not always the same? We are happy to tell you more about it.

What is a range?

The distance you can drive an electric car with a full battery is called range. It is also called range or range. It can be compared to the distance a fuel car can drive on one full tank.
For electric cars in the middle class, the range is 310 kilometers on average. To compare: A fuel car in the middle class has an average tank of 45 liters. With that you can drive about 630 kilometers.

Why is a range not always the same?

The power of the battery also determines the range. Electric cars that have a battery with higher power will be able to cover a greater distance. In addition, the capacity of the battery may decrease as it gets older.
As with fuel cars, the range of your car is further dependent on consumption and your driving style. The weather can also play a role. In colder temperatures, your range will be lower.

Power of your battery

The capacity of your battery determines how much electricity you can store and is determined by the size of the battery. In small cars, there is often not much room for the battery, so it can be smaller. As a result, large cars often have a higher range than smaller cars.
However, more and more new technologies are being developed, so that in the future it will probably be possible to put more energy into small batteries. The range of small electric cars will therefore be higher in the future.

Consumption while driving

For gasoline cars, consumption is expressed in the number of liters of fuel used per 100 kilometers. Because an electric car uses electricity, its consumption is expressed in the number of kilowatt-hours of electricity used per 100 kilometers. As with diesel and gasoline cars, the larger the car, the higher the consumption will be.

The influence of the weather on your range

The battery of electric cars works best at temperatures between 15 and 25 degrees Celsius. At warmer temperatures the capacity of the battery decreases. The battery can become warm due to the sun, but also due to fast charging. It is therefore important to cool the battery when fast charging.
However, the battery is also not a fan of low temperatures. It produces less energy which reduces your range. You can sometimes drive up to 30 kilometers less. Especially when you drive long distances in cold temperatures, for example when you go on winter vacation, it is good to take this into account.

How can I maximize the use of my battery?

With a few tips you can increase your range. For example:

• Drive 100 km/h on the highway instead of 120 km/h. Driving slowly will drain your battery less.
• Drive the same speed as much as possible and let the car roll out to brake.
• The air conditioning and heating in your electric car consume a lot of energy. This reduces your range.
• Don't overload your car. If you don't need your roof box or bike rack, it's smart to leave it at home. That way you'll have less air resistance and your car won't have to work as hard.
• Check your tire pressure regularly. Inflate your tires preferably every two months. Properly inflated tires are not only safer, but also use less energy and extend the life of the tire.

Extra tip: Always take a charge card with you. If the battery runs out sooner than you expected while driving, you can recharge it en route.