EV route planning is essential for long-distance travel in an electric car and requires a great deal of preparation. As a matter of fact, you do not just put a destination into the navigation app as some may do. Unlike petrol cars, which have constant access to fuel, EVs are at the mercy of the charging station network, the charge in the battery, the speed at which it charges, the weather, and energy use. What may look like a short trip on a map may, in fact, present issues if, for instance, there are no charging stations along the way. EV route planners, which in addition to navigation also include info on battery and charging, do, in fact, solve this issue by which I mean they integrate that extra info into the route, which in turn gives the driver a better idea of what to expect before they hit the road.
These apps report on battery use, put forth charging station recommendations, factor in elevation and traffic, account for weather conditions, and project the battery level at destination. This info makes long-distance travel easier to manage, as drivers are able to see what charging they will need before low battery becomes an issue. Also, instead of just going by what the car says in terms of driving range, we can plan a trip taking into account real-world variables and charge points.
Why EV Route Planning Matters
An EV’s range as it performs in the real world may vary a great deal based on how and where it is driven. On the highway vs. in the city, up hills vs. down, in traffic vs. free flow, in good weather vs. bad, with strong wind or not, also the weight of passengers and cargo, use of heat and air conditioning play a role. Also, it may be that a car which has sufficient range for a given distance in ideal conditions will require a charge before it is able to travel the same distance in more demanding real-world situations.
EV route planning present a practical approach to determining the feasibility of a trip. They break down the journey into parts and display battery consumption for each section of the route. Thus, users may see where they will need to charge and also compare routes based on time of travel, charging stations along the way, and expected battery levels, in addition to which may be the shortest.
Battery Consumption Estimates
Battery use is a key feature in EV route planning apps. Instead of just looking at distance, an EV-specific app will put forth an estimate of the energy required to travel between points. What is put out by the app may take into account the car make and model, battery size, road and traffic conditions, speed, elevation, and more, depending on the app.
This info, which in turn helps drivers out, shows what the present battery level is enough for, that which is to come in terms of the trip. Also, it may be that sometimes taking a little longer route is, in fact, more convenient, which in turn has better charging stations. By having this info pre-trip, we are able to reduce uncertainty and also make it easier to plan the journey around what, in fact, is a practical energy requirement.
Charging-Stop Recommendations
Charging is a key element of EV route planning for a long-distance EV trip. Route-planning tools which include EV features can put in charge points along the route, which also take into account the car’s, which is to say the individual vehicle’s, energy use. Also, with these charging-stop recommendations, drivers may steer clear of out-of-the-way detours and also reduce the chance of ending up in an area that does not have convenient charge options.
The issue of what charging station to use is important. As a driver, you should look at the power of the charger, the type of connector it has, the availability of the station, and your car’s max charging speed. While a high-powered charger may reduce wait time, that is not to say that the full benefit will be seen in your car, which may charge at a different rate based on the battery state. Also, in planning your trip, think about not just where to charge but also how that charge will play into the total travel time.
Elevation Changes Affect Energy Use
Elevation plays a role in how efficient an EV’s range will be. When you are driving uphill, the car has to work against gravity, which uses up more energy, but also when going downhill, the regen braking system will put back some of that energy. What we see is that two routes may have the same distance but be very different in terms of what range you get out of them based on the type of terrain.
This feature is particularly useful in EV route planning for travel in hilly and mountainous areas. In which a route is evaluated by elevation, a driver gets a more accurate report of energy use out of his vehicle, which in turn identifies parts of the route where performance may drop more than expected. Thus, drivers may plan better for charging stops or increase the size of their battery pack.
Traffic Conditions Matter
Traffic causes variation in journey time and energy use. In heavy traffic, we see frequent starts and stops, while at the same time, long periods of slow progress put vehicles on the road for a greater length of time. Also, high-speed highway travel may use more energy due to increased wind resistance.
EV route planners that have traffic info at their disposal do, in fact, help drivers out in terms of choice of route. If there is to be traffic along a particular road, then an alternate route may do better in terms of a trade-off between time and battery use. Also, traffic info may put into perspective why the real trip took longer than what was put forth in the original estimate.
Weather Considerations
Weather information can make EV route planning more accurate. In cold weather, we see reduced battery performance out of the gate. Also, the need to run the cabin heaters will eat up charge. In hot weather, the AC may run more frequently, which in turn uses up charge faster. Also, wind, especially when it is strong at highway speeds, will also seem to increase energy consumption.
As an EV route planner takes weather into account, it’s able to present more accurate energy estimates. In poor weather, we see that drivers may choose to start out with a fuller charge or to include an extra charge point. Also, what we see is that by factoring in weather info, planners are better at avoiding the issue of routes which look great in terms of energy use but may not work out on the day of travel.
Expected Arrival Battery Levels
An EV route planner has the benefit of which you can put in a destination and it will tell you what your battery level will be at that point or at the nearest charging station. This is more useful info than to know that the destination is within the car’s reported range. A driver is able to see if the route is going to leave a buffer in the battery or if they will need to make a charge stop. Understanding how much to charge an EV at a charging station can also help drivers make better decisions about how long to remain at a charging point before continuing the journey.
Expected battery levels at destination also play a role in which route is chosen. Maybe that one route is a little faster but depletes the charge more, while another is a longer trip but leaves you with a full charge and more options for charging. Thus, drivers can choose the option which best fits their preference and what they are trying to achieve on their trip.
Choosing an EV Route Planning App
When it comes to selecting an EV route planning app, what you should do is look for one that supports your specific make and model of car and which in turn gives you reliable charging info. As for features, look for battery consumption info, charging stations which also double as pit stop planning tools, details on the chargers themselves, traffic info, elevation data, weather info, and what the expected battery level is at destination. Information about integrated solar storage and EV charging solutions can also provide useful context for understanding how charging infrastructure is developing and how EV charging may be supported by other energy systems. Also, an app which reports in real time on charging station status is very useful for long-distance travel.
Drivers also note that routes which are planned out are not guaranteed. What we see is that actual energy use may change due to unexpected traffic, weather, speed at which you are driving, road conditions, or changes in the number of charging stations available. Also, by keeping your vehicle’s info and battery level up to date in the app, that will in turn improve the app’s prediction accuracy.
Planning a Long-Distance EV Trip
Before going on a long trip, drivers should input their destination and look at the full route, which may not be the first suggestion. We should also look at the charged level of the car’s battery at the time of the trip, the predicted fuel consumption, what the traffic will be like, which hills we will be climbing, and what the weather will do. This will make it easy to see what issues may come up before we leave.
During the trip, drivers check out the vehicle’s actual battery level against what the route planner says. If we see that energy use is more than we thought it would be, then we may have to change our driving style or use a closer charging station. Also, it is a good idea to keep some charge in the tank, as we may see unexpected delays or changes in weather which will in turn affect our original plan.
Reducing Range Anxiety
Range anxiety results from not knowing how far an EV will go before charging is required. If you know which charging stations are available and what the battery life is going to be like, that does make a big difference. Route planning apps break up a long trip into smaller parts, which in turn gives drivers better info on when and where they will need to charge.
This still requires that drivers pay close attention to the details, but we do see that the way in which long-distance EV travel is more predictable. What we are saying is that instead of solely depending on what the car is rated to do, drivers can base their decisions off of the actual route, charging station availability, traffic, terrain, weather, and what the battery is really doing.
Conclusion
EV route planning apps today are great resources for those preparing to take long-distance electric car trips. They put together navigation with battery use predictions, charging station recommendations, info on elevation, traffic issues, weather factors, and what to expect at the end of the trip in terms of battery level, which is a full picture of the trip.
At present, no application is able to predict all conditions exactly. Good route planning does reduce uncertainty, which in turn makes charging a more manageable task. Before you hit the road, check out the route, which will also mean paying attention to battery use while you are on the go and keeping a reserve. In this way, EV drivers may put more distance between them with greater confidence and less range anxiety.
