The study reveals how drivers with no previous training can quickly adapt their driving style to increase the efficiency of an EV, improving range by up to a third.
For the average festive season journey of 500km, that could equate to a saving of between £7 and £16 (between RM38 and RM87), depending on charging location in Britain.
Kia’s EV efficiency study was implemented following its comprehensive new researchii of 1,200 UK drivers, which identified key concerns related to the cost-of-living crisis.
It revealed that while seven in 10 drivers agree that owning an EV has helped reduce the impact of the cost-of-living crisis on their household, 52 per cent wish they were more aware of ways they could adapt their driving style to minimise expenditure.
Motiv8 International director David Taylor, who conducted the training on behalf of Kia, said: “Kia has some of the most advanced EVs available on the market today, so were the perfect partner to test our efficiency methods. The results speak for themselves; by changing simple inputs, drivers can easily optimise their vehicle’s efficiency and go further on a charge, save on recharging costs and reducing their energy use.
“This is Kia’s gift to EV drivers this festive season – easy techniques that anyone can apply to save money, as well as reduce demand on the national grid."
Kia selected the all-new fully electric Niro for the EV efficiency skills session due to its reasonable 458km range, two-wheel drive electrified powertrain, low drag co-efficient and smart regenerative braking system.
With batteries at 100% and the available range noted, the independent drivers were invited to drive a route which included winding country roads, town driving and stretches of highway.
During the first cycle, they were free to drive in their usual style under the instructor's observation. On return to the training centre, figures from Niro’s intuitive instrument cluster were recorded to indicate driving efficiency and available range for later comparison.
Motiv8 experts then analysed each driver’s habits and style for potential areas of improvement, and tailored advice was given to maximise gains in efficiency before repeating the same route under detailed instruction.
On completion of the second cycle, range and efficiency data were compared to reveal an average improvement of 33% greater electric range across all participants.
As a result of the training, Kia has compiled a list of the top-five most helpful efficiency tips to help EV drivers save money:
> Go easy with the right foot: The instant torque of an EV is exhilarating, but it comes at a price. Up to 50% of the energy powering a car goes into acceleration, so aggressive driving uses more energy
> Lighten the load: Take the roof box off if you’re not using it and unload any unnecessary clutter (but don’t forget the presents!)
> Momentum: Careful route planning to avoid jams will keep you moving. Sometimes the fastest way is not the most efficient way
> Anticipate: Anticipating the traffic situation ahead will keep the car moving at a steady pace and use less energy than heavy slowing and acceleration
> Go slow, and turn on the radio: Cutting your speed from 96kph to 80kph can improve efficiency by up to 15%
Kia provides its own customers with access to Kia Charge, a pan-European charging solution with over 28,500 multi-speed charge points available across the UK, equating to 86 per cent of the nation’s public charging network.
