How reliable is the range indicator?
An electric car's onboard range indicator is generally reliable but the figure shown can decrease faster than normal under certain circumstances.
"Above all, the driving style influences the power consumption; those who like to drive more sportily must expect a lower range," says auto journalist Henning Busse.
Anyone who prefers a more sporty style of driving should plan for earlier charging stops. The load carried by the car or a strong headwind can also affect the range, but much less so than the driving style.
How do I find charging stations along the way?
"Almost all e-cars have a charging route planner onboard, but the systems are often patchy," says Busse.
That's why he advises getting an app like Chargefinder or A Better Route Planner to have a really good overview of charging stations along the route.
How can I pay for charging abroad?
That depends on the country you visit but the most common payment method is by credit card. Those who use charging card keys from larger roaming providers such as Shell, Maingau or Plugsurfing have a good chance of being able to recharge at a lower price than by paying directly at the charging point.
Can I tow a trailer with an e-car?
In theory yes, but obviously only if your car has a trailer coupling and manufacturers have been slow to include them on their e-cars so far.
"The background to this is that towing a caravan, for example, puts a lot of strain on the drivetrain," says Busse. "Many manufacturers simply lack experience with e-cars here, so they are still cautious about approvals."
How can I maximise the electric range?
The simplest method is to take your foot off the gas. "Select eco mode, accelerate little, turn off auxiliary consumers such as the air conditioning and drive in the slipstream of a truck, for example, if that's possible," advises Harald Eder of Germany's vehicle testing organisation Dekra.
"Most e-cars have a kind of emergency mode that is still enough for a few kilometres when the display is already at 0. So it's comparable to the reserve in a combustion engine," Eder says. He recommends recharging at the latest when the remaining range shown is 20 to 30 kilometres.
Can I recharge while driving?
That's what recuperation, a form of energy recovery, is all about. "In this process, braking energy is converted into electricity and fed into the battery," says Eder.
This works most effectively if you drive with foresight and select a driving mode with increased recuperation, which is available on many EVs. However, the range thus gained is very limited.
What do I do if the car runs out of power?
Get it towed but not with the back wheels still on the ground. Since the wheels of an electric car are connected to the motor, the motor would rotate and generate electricity if the car were to be towed in the classic way.
"This current, however, could not flow away and thus could cause damage to the vehicle," Eder says.
So an e-car with a flat battery should always be fully loaded onto a tow truck. If you call a breakdown service you should always inform them that your car is electric.
