With electric vehicles (EVs) increasingly replacing petrol and diesel-powered vehicles as a cleaner mobility option, they have become a more regular part of our everyday routine. Whether going to work, to the marketplace or to meet a friend, EVs are proving to be the perfect mode for our intra-city commute needs.

But do you know that we can also use EVs for longer out-of-city trips and onto the highways, expressways, and even mountain roads, and that too pretty comfortable? Yes, your range anxiety and the doubts over being stranded in the middle of nowhere are understandable. But there are definitely ways in which you can make your trip range anxiety-proof and eventually a joyous, happy journey. 

8 Tips For Charging Your Electric Vehicle On A Long Highway Trip 

Here are eight tips for preparing your EV charging needs before you set out for the highways and a long road trip. 

First, nothing beats perfect planning. You must plan out your entire itinerary, the routes, the places where you might want to stop, the places where you might stop for refreshments and meals, the stoppage times that you might require and the location of the hotel where you might stay overnight.

In fact, you should work out the whole nine yards much in advance. Luckily, Statiq’s electric vehicle charging stations are located in premium locations such as National Highways, near restaurants and malls, and hotels, so you won’t need to worry while planning your trips. You can find EV charging stations near you with Statiq EV charging mobile application. 

Second, make sure you know your EV inside out. That means the type of charging platform it contains, whether it has a swappable battery platform, a plug-in charging platform, or whether it needs slow or fast charging.

You should know the time it takes to fully charge and the distance it can allow after that. And also the minimum time before it would need to be recharged again. Knowing your EV’s charging capacity, needs, and limitations is crucial for a successful trip. 

Third, download the Statiq EV charging mobile application on your phone. If you haven’t downloaded it yet, download it before going out for a long trip with your electric vehicle.

It is a very useful mobile application available on both Android and IOS platforms that allows you to find nearby electric vehicle charging stations, charge your electric vehicles, and pay conveniently through the mobile application. It is present in more than 100 cities with 6000+ EV charging stations. 

Fourth, you must also know the number of EV chargers and points available in an electric vehicle charging station and plan the duration and length of your drive accordingly, keeping in mind alternative charging stations in nearby locations.

It may well be possible that the EV charging stations where you landed would be overcrowded with many EV owners waiting for recharging. You must think of all possible scenarios beforehand.   

Fifth, make use of charging judiciously. Do not continue to charge unduly long when you don’t need it. So, you can stop after charging till the 80% mark unless you really need it. This is because the last one-fifth part requires an inordinately long time. This will also earn the goodwill and friendship of fellow travelers who may be standing in the queue after you. 

Sixth, be ready with digital payment apps and platforms enabled on your phone. It’s convenient and hassle-free, and you can even earn balance units or money that automatically gets credited to your account.

You can use UPI-enabled payment, Statiq’s RFID card and even use Statiq EV charging application for a seamless payment experience. RFID card is a special way that allows you to charge and pay for your vehicle conveniently with just a swipe. 

Seventh, you must have emergency plans in place. If you are really unfortunate and if the unavailability of public chargers completely fails you on a given day, you can fall back upon the ubiquitous 15 A socket located at homes, residential premises, restaurants, and hotels. However, don’t forget to carry a suitable extension cord designed and built for EV charging. 

Eighth, consider weather conditions along your travel route. While charging or driving, avoid exposure to extreme temperatures. Remember overcharging, over-discharging, and overheating are not ideal for an EV and its battery health. In fact, try to maintain a consistent speed and avoid unnecessary heavy acceleration of the vehicle. 

So, keeping the above in mind and preparing accordingly, you can enjoy a longer EV ride even outside the city and on the highways. And range anxiety becomes a thing of the past. 

Also read, Harnessing Clean Energy: The Role Of Electric Vehicles In Modernising Agriculture