Heels & Horsepower Magazine

10 Ways To Increase Your Electric Vehicle’s Range

As uneasy as it may be to drive a fuel powered vehicle nearing empty, it is even more worrisome to drive with one eye on the state-of-charge gauge of an electric vehicle; hoping to reach the nearest charging station.

Though some of the latest electric vehicles (EVs), can run for more than 400kms on a single charge, range anxiety remains a common consideration for many owners of electric vehicles. 

Thankfully, it is possible to drive further on one charge and add a few more kilometres to your drive with these easy and realistic adjustments to your driving pattern.

  1. Drive Smoothly

Simply put, ‘driving like you stole it’, drains your EV’s battery at an accelerated rate. As tempting as it is to leverage an EV’s instantaneous torque for quick take offs, it’s more prudent to take it easy when accelerating from a standing start.

2. Slow Down

Try to keep your speed at or under 60km/ph whenever possible. You’ll not only avoid getting a speeding ticket, but you’ll bolster your battery range in the process. Engage the “Eco” mode of your EV for gentler acceleration and general driving. Of course, if you EV has “Sport” mode, you’ll have to keep that switched off until you have recharged and are ready for a more lively drive.

3. Maximize Regenerative Braking

Whenever possible, leverage your EV’s energy-recovering regenerative braking function as you come to a stop, and use the brakes only when necessary. Enable your car’s maximum regenerative setting to send extra power back to the vehicle’s batteries while decelerating.

4. Go Easy On The Heat

Running an EV’s heater, especially at full blast, puts a big drain on battery power. In cooler temperatures, dial down the climate control and rather rely on the heated seats and heated steering wheel (if your vehicle is equipped with these creature comforts) to keep things cozy.

5. Be Cool With The AC

Likewise, operating the air conditioning consumes battery power at a quick rate. Try running only the fan, and not the compressor whenever possible; driving with the windows open is an obvious alternative. Unfortunately, the latter will take a toll on your vehicle’s aerodynamics at higher speeds and, in turn, reduce its operating range slightly. That’s because the more aerodynamic “drag” that’s placed on a vehicle, the more energy it takes to run it, especially at higher speeds. Still, operating the AC at full chill will drain the battery far quicker than will driving with the windows down. Again, pre-cool the car in summer months while it’s charging to help reduce the need to run the AC once you hit the road.

6. Tend To The Tyres

Sources suggest that over 25% of all vehicles on the road have improperly inflated tires. As with a conventional vehicle, driving an EV with under-inflated tyres will not only increase its energy consumption, but can lead to uneven and/or premature tread wear. Check the air pressure frequently using a simple tyre gauge, as it can vary by an average of one PSI (pound per square inch) with every 10-degree (Celsius) change in air temperature. Have the tyres properly inflated according to the PSI recommended by the automaker. This information is usually noted on a sticker that’s affixed to the driver’s side door frame or within the fuel cap.

7. Travel Light

As any automotive engineer will tell you, reducing a vehicle’s weight is the easiest way to boost its efficiency. To that end, get the junk out of the trunk, as carrying an additional 45kg of luggage can increase a vehicle’s energy consumption by 1-2% percent.

8. Keep It Slick

Avoid installing exterior accessories like roof racks and cargo carriers on your EV. Again, the aforementioned aerodynamic drag such items create will cause added energy consumption at higher speeds.

9. Plan A More-Efficient Route

It may take less time to get to a given destination by driving on the highway, but you can help maximize your car’s operating range by opting to choose a route that allows you to drive steadily at lower speeds. Avoid high traffic areas, steep gradients and hilly or mountainous areas whenever possible. If your EV has a navigation system that can suggest energy-efficient routes, be sure to use it.

10. Time Your Charge

You may not want to keep your car plugged into its charger whenever it’s in the garage. That’s because most EV batteries will slowly self-discharge when they’ve finished charging. You may be able to recover a few extra miles of range by timing the charge so the battery pack is at full strength just before you hit the road. This can also be advantageous to the battery’s long-term health.

Here Are The Electric Vehicles On Sale In South Africa Right Now

Over the past few years, a number of environmentally friendly vehicles have been launched in South Africa and a few more new models are expected in 2023.

Here is a list of the electric vehicles currently available.

BMW iX3 M Sport

  • Power: 210 kW/400 Nm
  • Maximum range: 460 km
  • Starting Price: R1,306,400

MINI Cooper SE

  • Power: 135 kW/270 Nm
  • Maximum range: 217 km
  • Starting Price: R742,102

Volvo XC40 Recharge

  • Power: 170 kW/330 Nm
  • Maximum range: 423 km
  • Starting Price: R1,075,000

Audi e-tron GT

  • Power: 350 kW/630 Nm
  • Maximum range: 488
  • Starting Price: R2,715,000

Audi RS e-tron GT

  • Power: 440kW/830Nm
  • Range: 472km
  • Starting price: R3,359,400

BMW i7

  • Power: 400kW/745 Nm
  • Maximum range: 625 km
  • Starting Price: R2,825,000

Mercedes-Benz EQB

  • Power: 215 kW/520 Nm
  • Maximum range: 423 km
  • Starting Price: R1,379,000

BMW i4 M50

  • Power: 400 kW/795 Nm
  • Maximum range: 465 km
  • Starting Price: R1,637,900

Mercedes-Benz EQC

  • Power: 300 kW/760 Nm
  • Maximum range: 437 km
  • Starting Price: R1,679,000

BMW iX 

  • Power: 240 kW/630 Nm
  • Maximum range: 425 km
  • Starting Price: R1,735,000

Audi e-tron 55 

  • Power: 300 kW/664 Nm
  • Maximum range: 440 km
  • Starting Price: R1,745,000

Porsche Taycan

  • Power: 300 kW/345 Nm
  • Maximum range: 431 km
  • Starting Price: R2,179,000

Jaguar I-Pace

  • Power: 294 kW/696 Nm
  • Maximum range: 470 km
  • Starting Price: R2,249,000

Mercedes-Benz EQS

  • Power: 245 kW/565 Nm
  • Maximum range: 782 km
  • Starting Price: R2,620,500

Orders now open for New Range Rover Plug-in hybrid

By H&H Admin

Land Rover South Africa has opened order books and confirmed prices for the New Range Rover Extended-Range plug-in hybrid.

Land Rover South Africa has opened order books and confirmed prices for the New Range Rover Extended-Range plug-in hybrid, while revealing performance figures are even stronger than originally estimated.

The P510e Extended-Range Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) offers exceptional efficiency, producing CO2 emissions as low as 18g/km and providing up to 113km of EV range* – exceeding initial expectations and offering customers even greater breadth of capability. At its reveal last year, Land Rover suggested an EV range of 100km and CO2 emissions below 30g/km would be attainable.

Nick Collins, Executive Director Vehicle Programmes, Jaguar Land Rover, said: “New Range Rover is the most desirable, elegant and capable luxury SUV in the world. Our efficient new Extended-Range Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle powertrains elevate the driving experience with a fine balance of performance, refinement and efficiency, enabling owners to complete whisper quiet zero emissions journeys of up to 113km.”

Electrified future

New Range Rover will become the first in a series of all-electric Land Rovers when the 100 percent electric model debuts in 2024, with every Land Rover set to be available with pure-electric propulsion by the end of the decade – helping Jaguar Land Rover achieve net zero carbon across its products, operations and supply chain by 2039 as part of its Reimagine strategy.

New Range Rover Extended-Range Plug-in Hybrid is available to order now from R3,527,000.

Jaguar Land Rover gives second life to I-PACE batteries

By H&H Admin

Jaguar Land Rover has partnered with Pramac, to develop a portable zero-emission energy storage unit to give new life to Jaguar I-PACE batteries.

Jaguar Land Rover has partnered with Pramac, a global leader in the energy sector, to develop a portable zero-emission energy storage unit powered by second-life Jaguar I-PACE batteries.

Called the Off Grid Battery Energy Storage System (ESS), Pramac’s technology – which features lithium-ion cells from Jaguar I-PACE batteries taken from prototype and engineering test vehicles, supplies zero-emission power where access to the mains supply is limited or unavailable. 

The partnership is the first in Jaguar Land Rover’s plans to create new circular economy business models for its vehicle batteries. As part of its commitment to net zero status by 2039, the company will be launching programmes that deliver second life and beyond uses for its electric vehicle batteries. 

Post-vehicle applications exist because Jaguar Land Rover’s batteries are engineered to the highest standards and can therefore be safely deployed in multiple low-energy situations once battery health falls below the stringent requirements of an electric vehicle.

Second-life battery supply for stationary applications, like renewable energy storage, could exceed 200 gigawatt-hours per year by 2030, creating a global value over $30 billion*.

The flagship system has a capacity of up to 125kWh – more than enough to fully charge Jaguar’s multi-award-winning all-electric I-PACE performance SUV, or to power a regular family home for a week**. Pramac directly reuses up to 85% of the vehicle battery supplied by Jaguar Land Rover within the storage unit, including modules and wiring. The remaining materials are recycled back into the supply chain.

Charged from solar panels, the unit is a self-contained solution that consists of a battery system linked to a bi-directional converter and the associated control management systems. Available for commercial hire, the units are fitted with Type 2 Electric Vehicle (EV) charge connections with dynamic control and rated at up to 22kW AC to allow electric vehicle charging. 

An Off Grid Battery ESS will also be deployed at Jaguar Land Rover Experience Centre in Johannesburg, South Africa – the world’s biggest – to help the site cope with inconsistent power delivery from the mains

Here are the full results of South Africa’s first open-road EV range test

Exactly how far is an electric car able to travel on a single charge in real-world South African conditions at a steady 120 km/h?

A new benchmark evaluation answers this very question, putting three locally available electric vehicles (EVs) – the Jaguar I-Pace, BMW i3s and MINI Cooper SE – to the test in a first-of-its-kind, simulated open-road range assessment.

This inaugural test which took place at the Gerotek High Speed Oval in November 2021, sets a national benchmark for each of the three battery-powered variants. It lays down a historical reference point to look back on and allows consumers to evaluate battery performance advancements as more EVs are added to the local market each year.

While the maximum claimed range of any given EV is well advertised, the new test provides an indication of just how far consumers would be able to go on a single charge if they were driving non-stop at the national speed limit on a characteristically hot day in South Africa.

Whereas the Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicles Test Procedure (WLTP) cycle that automakers use to calculate advertised range includes a combination of urban, suburban, rural and highway driving scenarios, as well as prescribed acceleration phases and a set number of stops, the Annual South African Electric Car Test, which was charged by AutoTrader, concentrates solely on open-road driving.

It thus removes regenerative braking – a recovery system that redirects what would otherwise be lost kinetic energy back into the battery during deceleration, boosting overall range and rendering EVs especially well-suited to stop-start city driving – entirely from the equation.

Considering it has the greatest net battery capacity at 84.7 kWh (this is effectively the usable portion of the standard 90 kWh pack) and a claimed upper-end range of 470 km, it’s little surprise the Jaguar I-Pace achieved the most impressive distance on the day, circling the Gerotek High Speed Oval in Gauteng for a total of 277 km, 311 m at a true average speed of 119.9 km/h.

This sort of range could be equated to driving from Johannesburg to Pretoria and back twice, with plenty of mileage to spare.

According to PlugShare, there are as many as 71 charging points within a 3.2 km radius between these two points, illustrating the fact that South Africa’s larger metropolitan areas are better stocked with charging options than many might believe.

The BMW i3s e-drive REx (the test was conducted with this derivative’s range-extender fuel tank emptied) finished on 168 km, 527 m, with its GPS-verified average speed settling on 120.02 km/h, while the MINI Cooper SE was just behind on 147 km, 730 m at a true average speed of 119 km/h.

With net battery capacities of 37.9 kWh and 28.9 kWh and advertised ranges of 285 km and 215 km respectively, these two new-energy hatchbacks are designed to excel at city driving rather than out on the open road, so their final results are by no means underwhelming, particularly when one considers the average daily commute for South African car drivers is a mere 22 km one way.

The three sub-R2.5 million EVs available to purchase in South Africa at the time of the inaugural open-road simulation were driven in their respective eco modes – Eco for the I-Pace, Eco Pro in the case of the i3s and Green for the Cooper SE – from a fully charged state, with each one’s air-conditioning system set at 21°C on auto (the ambient temperature at the track on the day was recorded as 28°C).

“While we believe it’s important to set an official benchmark in South African conditions rather than relying on typically cooler European testing scenarios, our broader aim is simply to educate local consumers.

Range anxiety is a hurdle many potential buyers face and this test will help them form a better understanding of the variations in range when it comes to EVs,” explains AutoTrader’s CEO, George Mienie.

“Owing to our familiarity with traditional petrol- and diesel-powered vehicles, we’re used to equating stop-start city driving with high fuel consumption, and highway cruising with better economy, but the opposite proves true for electric cars. This is the sort of interesting information the test highlights, helping inform consumers as EVs become more widespread in our market,” concludes Mienie.

Nissan celebrates 35 years of production with custom-built 100% electric LEAF-powered Bluebird

Press Release: Nissan South Africa

Celebrating 35 years of production at the Sunderland plant, Nissan has commissioned a very special conversion of the Nissan Bluebird.

Celebrating 35 years of production at the Sunderland plant, Nissan has commissioned a very special conversion of the Nissan Bluebird – the first car off the factory’s production line in 1986.

Called `Newbird’, the one-off project car is powered by the 100% electric drivetrain of a Nissan LEAF, the pioneering mass-market EV that kick-started the global trend towards electrification of mobility.

The `Newbird’ connects 35 years of manufacturing heritage at Sunderland, as Nissan accelerates towards an electrified future through Ambition 2030, the company’s long-term plan to empower mobility and beyond.

Alan Johnson, Vice President, Manufacturing, at Nissan Sunderland Plant, said; “The `Newbird’ represents all that is great about our plant – past present and future – as we celebrate 35 years of manufacturing in Sunderland.

“We have a rich heritage of building great cars, right from the original Bluebird model, and our fantastic team is now leading the way as we drive towards an exciting electrified, carbon-neutral, future.”

Nissan `Newbird’: In Detail

The Nissan Bluebird was extensively modified to integrate the LEAF’s electric drivetrain. The original petrol combustion engine and gearbox were removed and a LEAF motor, inverter and 40kWh battery pack installed, with the battery modules split between the engine bay and boot for optimised weight distribution.

Updates and modifications were made to the power steering, braking and heating systems to enable them to be electrically powered. A custom suspension was also installed to support the additional weight from the battery packs.

As a nod to the car’s electric updates, the original Nissan bonnet badge received a LED backlight (for when the vehicle is static).

The car is recharged through the original fuel flap, which provides access to the charging port. The battery can be recharged at up to 6.6kW and the original driver instrument panel has been connected to the EV system to enable the fuel gauge to show the battery state of charge.

Although not homologated, the vehicle’s range from a single charge is estimated at around 130 miles (subject to environmental factors and driving style) with a 0-62mph (0-100kph) time of just under 15 seconds.

For the exterior of the vehicle, Nissan Design Europe, based in London, created a new graphic motif inspired by design cues of 1980s consumer technology, combined with a 21st century aesthetic.

The conversion was project-managed by Kinghorn Electric Vehicles, a family-run company based in Durham, North East England (just 15 miles from the Sunderland plant). Kinghorn EV specialises in the conversion of classic cars to full electric using second-life Nissan LEAF motors, inverters & batteries.

George Kinghorn said, “Electric vehicles are not just the future, they’re the now! Converting older vehicles to electric gives you everyday use of these iconic vintage models, but they’re just as enjoyable to drive, they’re more reliable and importantly don’t produce harmful emissions when driving. With this project, we think we’ve created a car that captures the soul of the Nissan Bluebird, with the heart of a Nissan LEAF.” 

Sunderland Plant was officially opened in September 1986 and has been in operation ever since. Total output from 1986 to the present day stands in excess of 10.5 million cars.