5 Steps to Loving Your New Electric Vehicle
How to Love Your Electric Vehicle
Tips for Charging, Driving, and Road Trips
Switching to an electric vehicle (EV) is exciting—but it can also feel overwhelming at first.
How do you charge it?
How far can you go?
What happens when the weather turns ugly?
Don’t worry—I’ve been there, and I’ve learned a lot along the way.
In this guide, I’ll share practical tips to help you enjoy your EV, drive confidently, and plan road trips without stress.
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Step 1: Master Charging Basics
EV Charger Comparison: Level 1 for overnight charging, Level 2 for daily convenience, and Level 3 for fast road trip top-ups.
A few EVs come with a Level 1 charger that plugs into a standard wall outlet.
It’s great for emergencies or overnight charging, but it’s slow. Modern EVs with ranges of 250–350 miles need faster options.
Level 2 chargers use a 240-volt circuit and are ideal for home installation or public locations—such as restaurants and hotels—where drivers can charge their vehicles while parked for several hours or overnight.
Level 3 chargers (DC fast chargers) are your road trip heroes, adding hundreds of miles in 15–30 minutes.
Download apps like PlugShare to find chargers along your route and sign up for networks like Electrify America, ChargePoint, and EVGo before you hit the road.
Amp’d Advice: Look for Level 2 chargers at public destinations like museums, botanical gardens, zoos, and sports venues. These spots offer a convenient way to add charge while you enjoy the activities.
Step 2: Navigate the Public Charger Network
Public EV Chargers are Your Lifeline for Road Trips
Apps like PlugShare make finding public chargers easy
Think of charging providers like gas stations—just scattered across big-box store parking lots, convenience stores, and public garages.
Planning ahead makes all the difference—whether you’re driving across town or heading to another city.
Like any new activity, after a few public charging stops, you’ll find the process much easier to manage.
Before our first trip to Oklahoma City, I mapped out chargers using PlugShare and registered an account with Electrify America.
Those simple steps turned a stressful unknown into a smooth experience.
Start Small: Sign up for one charging network, use it a few times, then branch out to another charging provider.
ChargePoint is an easy-to-use provider found in many public charging locations.
Confidence Comes with Practice: The more you charge on the go, the more natural it feels—soon your EV becomes your everyday driver, not just a weekend novelty.
Step 3: Drive Efficiently
Maximize Range - Minimize Charging
Smart driving habits—smooth acceleration, regen braking, and steady speed—help maximize EV range.
EVs deliver instant torque and thrilling acceleration—but aggressive driving kills range.
Smooth acceleration, regenerative braking, and smart hill management will help you go farther.
Regeneration matters: Use your EV’s regen settings to reclaim energy when slowing down. My Kia EV6 is set to automatic for maximum recovery.
One-pedal driving: Some EVs let you accelerate and brake with one pedal. It feels odd at first but quickly becomes second nature.
Cruise control: Maintaining steady speed is one of the easiest ways to boost efficiency.
Go ahead—stomp on it and show your neighbor you made the superior choice.
Then ease off and keep it under control to maximize range and improve driving comfort. Smart driving habits not only save energy but also make every trip smoother and more enjoyable.
Step 4: Comfort vs. Range
No Need to be Uncomfortable
Ignore the alarmists—using AC or heat won’t destroy your range. Modern EVs are efficient. I notice a six-mile range reduction with the AC blowing and about the same running my heat during the winter.
Heated seats and steering wheels sip power and will improve your comfort.
Cooled seats work the same way; they use minimal power to keep you comfortable.
Set your cabin temperature while the car’s still plugged in. Let it warm up or cool down before you hit the road—your battery will thank you. It’s an easy way to save energy and keep your range strong.
Bottom line: stay comfortable. Driving an EV should feel like an upgrade, not a sacrifice.
Step 5: Adjust for Weather
Adjust Speed and Plan Extra Charging Stops
Weather impacts EV range—plan ahead for cold, wind, and storms.
Weather impacts range—especially cold temperatures and strong winds. Plan accordingly, you may need an extra charge stop or maybe driving slower will allow you to arrive faster than adding that extra charge.
Heat or cool the interior while the car is charging. This uses power from the charging station, not from your battery.
Wind will reduce driving range, the more resistance the harder your EV works. Reducing your speed even 5 MPH will make a big impact on your driving range.
You may need to plan extra charging stops due to the weather. Very cold days will reduce your driving range; plan for an extra cup of coffee while charging.
A few winters ago, we drove 74 miles to meet some friends at Pizza Works in Moberly, Missouri.
On the 5-degree day, I hit the highway at 70 mph and burned through 55% of the battery. Then I stewed about getting home and did not completely enjoy lunch.
We made it home by slowing to 45 mph and limping in with 7% State of Charge (SOC).
Lesson learned: adjust speed and/or plan extra charging stops in extreme conditions.
Extreme heat can really throw a wrench into EV travel plans. When we visited southern Texas in early June, the temperatures soared to around 120°F.
The heat pushed our battery temperature so high that it refused to take a charge. We ended up waiting hours for the battery to cool down enough to start charging—and that didn’t happen until about 2 a.m.
Lightning storms? Your EV is safe—but maybe skip the thrill ride.
Hail Storms? Yeah, good luck there.
Build Confidence Gradually
Start Small, Then Stretch Your EV Driving Radius
When I first got my EV, I obsessed over the battery gauge—even for short trips.
It took a little time, but I started to notice my car’s rhythm.
A 70-mile highway round trip to Columbia, Missouri? About 24% of the battery—every time. Once I trusted that pattern, the obsession melted away.
I also learned that battery percentage is the real hero, not the estimated miles, because the remaining miles may change every time you start the car while the battery percentage remains consistent.
Begin small and build your confidence. We started with simple 60-mile lunch outings, then moved on to 120-mile shopping trips to St. Louis, and before long, 250-mile road trips were no big deal.
Today, we’ve taken several cross-country journeys lasting over ten days. Planning and experience make all the difference—now big cities like St. Louis and Kansas City are easy, and we’re excited for whatever’s next.
Every EV trip starts with PlugShare to research destinations and charging options.
Once we’ve chosen a destination, I verify which charging providers are available along the route. Then read the reviews for reliability and tips on the best pedestals, nearby amenities, and even hidden chargers. Cheryl adds a nostalgic twist by marking those stations on a paper atlas, giving us a colorful snapshot of the route.
Blending digital tools with old-school mapping makes planning quick, stress-free, and a little adventurous. Read this article to see how this combo keeps our road trips smooth and fun!
Birds Eye Review: How I Learned to Stop Worrying & Love My EV
Enjoying the Views of Mackinac Straits Bridge, Michigan
Key Takeaways for EV Travelers
Buying an EV was one of the best decisions I’ve made. Here’s what matters most:
Learn about the different types of chargers.
Plan your charging strategy.
Drive smart and smooth.
Watch the weather.
Track battery percentage, not just miles.
Have fun.
With a little planning, your EV can be your primary daily driver—and your ticket to unforgettable road trips.
Embrace the challenge, and you’ll discover that driving electric meets all your needs.
