Tips for Electric Vehicle Drivers to Charge Reliably
- Plan and map out charging stop on longer trips. Identify back-up stations in case a station is occupied or out of service. Apps like PlugShare can help with this.
- Get to know the charging networks that work with your vehicle and install their apps to monitor station status. If your EV model is not very popular yet, it is also important to identify chargers that work with your vehicle consistently, as some chargers may not be validated for your EV model yet.
- Avoid waiting until your battery is nearly empty before charging. Start charging when there's still 20-30% charge left to minimize risk of getting stranded.
- Be familiar with proper charging protocols like plugging in before starting a session, waiting for it to finish completely before unplugging, etc. Follow station instructions.
- After a failed charging session, unplug the charging cable and then re-plug to start a fresh new session (sometimes, a clean restart can help continue charging your car)
- In extremely cold weather, the battery warms it up before fast charging when possible. This helps it charge faster and more reliably.
- Park carefully at charging stations for good cable reach and avoid any tension or strain on the cord.
- Inspect the charge port and cable connectors and check if they are clean and undamaged.
- Carry Portable EV Charging adapters.
- Consider only fast charging to 80% capacity if time allows, for battery longevity. The last 20% charges slower.
- If a station malfunctions, report issues to the network operator right away via their app or customer service line.
Please share if you know other helpful tips.
Connect With EV>CHARG>EN
Have a question or need more information about our services? Fill out the form below, and one of our experts will get back to you soon.