Whether you are using a conventional car or an electric car, economy is still a huge factor in dictating how you drive your car. If you drive to all of your destinations at high speed, you will not be able to get the same range that you can when you drive conservatively. The range that you can get out of your electric car is also dictated by other factors. This includes the use of air conditioning or heating while driving. Using either will decrease the range of your car significantly. There are some models with diesel-powered heaters, which, of course, mitigate the drain on the battery. The temperature outside also affects the range of your electric car. Batteries tend to perform poorly during extremely cold weather, and better when the weather is warm.

Turning on your car’s headlights or radio will also decrease its range, though at a relatively insignificant level. That is, compared to the power being used by the electric motor, the power being used by the lights and radio is insignificant.

Because of all of the factors that go into how much power is being used for different circumstances, the majority of car manufacturers are hesitant to commit themselves to numbers regarding the long range of their electric cars. They can speak about potential ranges, but giving a specific range without first knowing the circumstances under which the driver would be traveling would risk a loss of consumer confidence as their customers found themselves disappointed at not getting the maximum range that was promised to them by the manufacturer. This is one of the main reasons that manufacturers encourage consumers to educate themselves fully before purchasing an electric car.

The owner of an electric car also has to be aware that one must make some changes in the way one drives an electric car – as opposed to a conventional combustion engine car – in order to get the best range possible. These driving adjustments are not difficult to get used to; most drivers find themselves in a comfortable driving routine without even being aware that they have changed almost everything about the way they drive.

The most important thing that you can change in your driving to improve your range is to change your speed. The same is also true when it comes to the fuel economy of a conventional car. The higher your speed, the higher the wind resistance, which means the distance you are able to travel will be shorter – though you will get there faster. It goes almost without saying that the slower you travel the longer it will take to reach your destination, but you will be able to travel farther. It is a trade-off that you will consider with each trip.

This is not a linear calculation, but generally if you decrease your speed by a mere 10 percent, you will also increase the range of your car by 15 percent.

Braking is another aspect where a driver can make adjustments to improve his or her driving technique:

• An electric