Driving Differences
Driving an all-electric vehicle is a different experience than driving a gas-powered car. Sure, it's still a car—it has wheels and brakes and a steering wheel—but most EV drivers say it takes a little getting used to. Here are some of the differences you can expect.
EV Driving Differences
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Okay, this one seems obvious: Your EV is powered by a battery rather than a gas-powered engine. The battery powers everything in the car, including the motor, the heating and cooling, and the lights. If you're using a lot of energy to heat or cool the car, you might lose some range.
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EVs are generally much quieter than gas-powered cars. That's partly because the battery-powered motor is virtually silent, and partly because most EVs are designed to minimize air resistance for better range. EVs are so quiet at low speeds that the federal government requires them to have an audible alert to warn pedestrians and cyclists of their presence.
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EVs use regenerative braking, sometimes referred to as "one-pedal driving," to increase efficiency. That means when you take your foot off the gas, the car harvests the energy of its own momentum to recharge the battery. The effect: the car slows down, and your battery charges up. In practice, some EV drivers say they rarely touch the brakes because the car slows itself down so effectively.
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Most EV owners we've talked with at Drive Electric Vermont have never (seriously, never) run out of juice with nowhere to charge. The science backs this up: Almost 80% of prospective EV owners have range anxiety, while most people who actually own an EV have little to no range anxiety. In other words, range is often less of a problem than most people think it is before they experience an EV.
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Weee! Electric vehicles accelerate much more quickly than gas-powered cars. Electric motors have impressive torque and they don't have to rev through gears; they just apply instant power to the drivetrain. The Kia EV6 GT goes 0 to 60 in 3.2 seconds, and the Tesla Model S Plaid... 2.3 seconds. More affordable models still have great pep for typical driving.
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Most EVs are built with heavy batteries underneath the car. Concentrating the weight down low gives EVs impressive cornering abilities and can help with winter traction (although winter tires are still recommended). Paired with quick acceleration and deceleration, that heft makes EVs pretty fun to drive.
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Some EVs are capable of towing. The instant torque, heavy weight, and regenerative braking can be considerable assets when towing. Some models, like the Tesla Model Y, can tow about the same weight as the average minivan. Other models, like EV trucks, can tow as much as a standard gas-powered truck. Most EVs will lose significant range when towing due to the added weight and drag of a trailer. Check with the EV manufacturer and consult your owner’s manual for details on towing capacity and range.
“ The power and driving performance of my EV is second to none. The driving experience is simply better. ”