Switching to an electric car is mostly easy. The surprises come from habits carried over from petrol cars. Here are the ones that catch most new drivers.
In short
- Plan where you will charge before you plan where you will drive.
- Follow the manual for daily charge limits instead of charging to 100% by habit.
- Expect less range in winter, and use preconditioning to limit the loss.
Relying on a household socket
A standard socket works, but it is slow and not designed for hours of heavy load every night. A dedicated wallbox installed by an electrician is safer and far more practical.
Charging to 100% every night
A full charge is useful before a long trip. For daily driving, check the manual and the car’s charging settings: setting a lower everyday limit is common advice for battery longevity.
Forgetting about winter
- Cold weather reduces range, sometimes noticeably.
- Preconditioning the cabin while plugged in uses grid power instead of the battery.
- Fast charging is slower when the battery is cold.
Not planning charging stops
On longer trips, check the chargers along your route before you leave, and have a backup option. Charging apps and the car’s route planner help a lot here.
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