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Driving Tips - Guerin
Electric car batteries: everything you need to know.
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If you're a fan of electric cars and still don't know whether to buy a car or to rent one, then Guerin has a complete fleet with numerous options for your travelling needs. But first, let's find out all about the electric car battery.
An electric car leaves out the usual combustion engine, replacing it with an electric one that runs on energy without CO2 emissions. And when we talk about an electric car battery, we're talking about numerous advantages associated with it. Shall we discover them?
All about the battery life of electric cars.
The electric cars battery acts as the heart of the vehicle. It is powered by the electrical energy stored in this battery, which propels the car's engine. Whether for long journeys or everyday city driving, there are various electric car options with different ranges. The most common ranges from 150 km to 250 km in urban WLTP. This is ideal for those who drive less than 20 kilometres a day. And did you know that, on average, portuguese drivers only drive 25 kilometres a day?
However, you can already find cars with batteries with enough capacity to reach 800 km without emissions, the perfect solution for those who have to make long journeys on a recurring basis. What most drivers still don't know is that there is a feature that helps increase the battery life of electric cars. It's called regenerative braking, and when the car brakes or decelerates, the energy is directed back into the battery, recharging it.
How do you charge an electric car battery?
Electric cars can be charged at home or in public places at designated charging stations. At normal or fast charging stations, with public, semi-public or private access, you will need to have a contract with the Electricity Supplier for Electric Mobility (CEME). From then on, all you need to charge is your charge card.
Charging at home is more convenient, but it also takes longer. You can charge the battery of electric cars using two methods: a household socket or a wallbox. With the right cable and adapters, you can charge your electric car from a normal household socket. However, this is not the best charging solution. The best home option will always be a wallbox and it's also the fastest. It reduces the charging time to between 4 and 8 hours, depending on its power and the characteristics of the vehicle itself.
Now that you know the main differences between charging systems, you can also find out whether a hybrid or an electric car is preferable for you.
Take care of your electric car battery.
Ensuring that your electric car battery is carefully maintained is one of the best ways to guarantee its durability. Some precautions to take are:
- Don't charge or let it fully discharge. Try to keep charging levels between 20% and 80%.
- Only fully charge when travelling long distances.
- If you are immobilising the car for longer periods, it is advisable to leave the charge at an intermediate level: between 50% and 60%.
- Frequent, short-term charging jeopardises battery life.
- Opt for smart chargers and slow-charging sockets.
- Using fast charging stations frequently degrades the battery's capacity and performance, as they cause the temperature to rise and damage the battery cells. Only use them if you really need to. You can find out all about fast charging stations here.
- Extreme temperatures (cold or heat) damage battery life. In summer, for example, try to park your car in the shade and in winter always try to park in a sheltered spot.
- Braking abruptly and driving over rough terrain can also contribute to early battery damage.
5 advantages of driving an electric car.
Our fleet of eco-cars for hire has many advantages for both the driver and the environment. We're talking about:
- Zero emissions: no polluting gases whatsoever.
- More journeys and lower costs: with fuel prices constantly fluctuating, electric cars allow you to make greater savings in the medium term, with an efficiency of around 90%. Find out how much it costs to charge an electric car.
- Quieter driving: without a combustion engine or exhaust system, you'll only hear a soft noise at low speeds.
- Tax benefits: €4,000 incentive on the purchase of a new electric car up to €38,500. Or up to €55,000 for cars with more than 5 seats. Electric cars continue to be exempt from paying Vehicle Excise Duty (ISV), as well as the Single Circulation Tax (IUC).
- Fewer visits to the garage: as there are not as many components as in a combustion car, the maintenance of an electric car is also lower.
Hire your electric car from Guerin.
Guerin's fleet offers electric car hire options, ideal for those who don't want to commit to buying one just yet or who want to try driving for the first time. The entire management of your rental goes through a 100% digital rental process, which saves you time.
What's more, if you're planning a long journey soon, opting for a hire car could save you a lot of fuel as, on average, you only need to spend €2 to travel 100 kilometres in an electric car. Enjoy an emission-free driving experience. Your pockets will thank you, and so will the environment.
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