Best Practices for EV Owners
Whether you recently purchased an electric vehicle or have owned one for some time, make sure to follow these best practices that can help maximize your experience with your EV.
You could save hundreds of dollars annually on your power bill when charging at home.
Consider signing up for one of our eligible EV Time-of-Use (TOU) rate plans and charge during super off-peak hours.
Get the most savings on your power bill.
Set up the charge timer in your car or WiFi-enabled EV charger to take advantage of cheaper off-peak pricing. Consult your owner’s manual for guidance.
Plug in every night.
Make a habit of plugging in every night at home, if feasible. Doing so preserves battery life and extends range. You can also set your car to precondition the cabin while it is still plugged in before you set out on your trip. Consult your owner’s manual for guidance.
Save time by ending your charging session at DC fast chargers before the battery is full.
Reduce your time to recharge on long trips by ending your session once you’ve replaced approximately 80% of the battery’s capacity. This not only saves time but can also extend the life of the battery.
Be mindful of other drivers. When charging at a public station, be courteous of others that may be waiting for the charger. Move your vehicle once you have completed charging to allow access by other drivers.
Go further on a charge.
If you’re driving a fully-electric car in a cold climate and need to preserve range, try to use the seat heaters and steering wheel heaters rather than the cabin heater. Heating the whole cabin requires more energy and will lower your car’s range.
Save lives while saving more.
Your choice of an EV is a big step in reducing the harmful health and environmental impacts of air pollution. To reduce your carbon footprint even more, consider adding a home solar and home energy storage system. You can also elect to participate in EcoChoice℠. With EcoChoice, you can get up to 100% of your energy from clean or renewable sources every month.
Plug in when traveling.
If you are going on vacation and the car is going to sit for a week or more, leave it plugged in.
