Top 14 'Battery-Saving' DIY Checks to maintain your EV's range and health on a budget - Goh Ling Yong
So, you’ve made the leap into the world of electric vehicles. Welcome! You’re enjoying the instant torque, the silent drives, and the freedom from smelly petrol stations. But there’s a little gremlin that sometimes whispers in the ear of even the most seasoned EV driver: range anxiety. It’s that nagging feeling, that constant mental calculation of kilometres left versus kilometres to your destination.
Beyond just making it to the next charger, there’s the longer-term concern of battery health. Your EV’s battery is its heart, and just like our own hearts, how we treat it day-to-day determines its longevity and performance. The good news is that you don’t need a degree in electrical engineering or a workshop full of expensive tools to make a significant impact. In fact, some of the most effective ways to preserve your range and protect your battery are simple, free, and can be done right in your own driveway.
This guide is all about empowering you, the owner. We're going to walk through 14 DIY checks and habits you can adopt today to keep your EV running efficiently and its battery happy for years to come. Think of this as your budget-friendly guide to becoming a true master of your electric machine.
1. The Tire Pressure Check: Your #1 Range Defender
This might be the most repeated piece of car maintenance advice in history, but for EVs, it’s doubly important. Your tires are the only point of contact between your thousand-kilogram vehicle and the road. Improperly inflated tires create more rolling resistance, which is like trying to run in soft sand instead of on firm pavement. Your motor has to work harder to overcome this resistance, and that extra work comes directly from your battery.
Under-inflated tires are the biggest culprit. Even a few PSI below the manufacturer's recommendation can measurably decrease your range. It’s a silent killer of efficiency. Make it a habit to check your tire pressure at least once a month and before any long road trips. Most modern EVs have a Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), but a reliable digital pressure gauge is a cheap and invaluable tool for getting an accurate reading when the tires are cold (before you’ve driven for the day).
Pro-Tip: The correct tire pressure for your EV is listed on a sticker inside the driver’s side door jamb. Don’t use the "max pressure" number printed on the tire's sidewall; that’s a safety limit, not the recommended operating pressure. Some EV owners even experiment with slightly higher pressures (2-3 PSI over recommendation) for a tiny bit more range, but be aware this can lead to a slightly firmer ride.
2. Inspect Your Treads and Alignment
Beyond pressure, the physical condition of your tires plays a huge role. Worn or unevenly worn tires can also increase rolling resistance and negatively impact your range. Take a moment to visually inspect your tires for any signs of strange wear patterns. For instance, if the edges of the tires are wearing faster than the center, they might be under-inflated. If the center is wearing faster, they might be over-inflated.
If you notice wear on just the inner or outer edges of your front tires, it could be a sign that your wheel alignment is off. A misaligned car is essentially "crabbing" down the road, with the tires fighting against each other. This creates drag and wastes energy. While a professional alignment isn’t a DIY job, spotting the signs yourself is a crucial first step that can save you a significant amount of battery life over time.
Pro-Tip: Check your tread depth using a simple tread depth gauge or the classic "coin test." Uneven wear is your cue to visit a trusted tire shop for a professional alignment check. This small investment can pay for itself in saved energy and longer tire life.
3. Go on a 'Car Diet': Reduce Unnecessary Weight
This one is simple physics. The heavier your car is, the more energy it takes to get it moving and keep it moving. We often let our cars become mobile storage units, filled with things we don't need for our daily commute: sports equipment, old boxes, heavy toolkits, or bags of forgotten items in the boot.
Take 15 minutes this weekend to completely empty your car. That means the boot, the frunk, the glove box, and under the seats. You’ll be surprised at what you find. Only put back the absolute essentials, like your charging cable and a small emergency kit. This is especially important for city driving, where you are constantly accelerating from a stop, the phase of driving where mass has the biggest impact on energy use.
Pro-Tip: The biggest offender is often an empty roof rack or cargo box. These accessories are fantastic for holiday trips, but they are disastrous for aerodynamics and add weight. If you’re not using it, take it off! The improved efficiency will be noticeable almost immediately.
4. Become a Climate Control Connoisseur
Your EV’s heating and air conditioning system is one of its biggest auxiliary power consumers. Unlike an internal combustion engine (ICE) car that uses waste heat from the engine to warm the cabin, an EV has to generate that heat from scratch using its high-voltage battery, which is far less efficient.
The key is to be mindful. Instead of blasting the heat on a cold morning, use your heated seats and steering wheel (if you have them). These are far more efficient because they heat you directly, rather than trying to heat the entire cabin's air volume. In the summer, instead of running the A/C at full blast, try pre-cooling the car for a few minutes while it’s still plugged into the charger. This uses grid power, not your precious battery range.
Pro-Tip: When pre-conditioning, use your car's mobile app. You can warm up or cool down the cabin to the perfect temperature before you even unplug, ensuring you start your journey with a full battery and a comfortable environment.
5. Master the Art of Regenerative Braking
This is one of the superpowers of an EV. Regenerative braking captures the kinetic energy that is normally lost as heat in a traditional car's brakes and converts it back into electricity to lightly recharge the battery. To maximize this, you need to change your driving style from the coast-and-brake method of an ICE car to a more predictive, one-pedal driving approach.
Look far ahead in traffic. When you see a red light or slowing traffic, lift your foot off the accelerator early. Let the car's regenerative braking system slow you down smoothly. This is far more efficient than staying on the power until the last second and then using the friction brakes. The smoother you are, the more energy you will recuperate.
Pro-Tip: Most EVs have adjustable levels of regenerative braking. Experiment with the strongest setting for city driving. It might feel strange at first, but once you get used to "one-pedal driving," you'll find you barely ever need to touch the brake pedal, and your range will thank you for it.
6. Embrace the 20-80 Charging Rule
Just like your smartphone, your EV's lithium-ion battery is happiest when it's not at extreme states of charge. Consistently charging to 100% or letting the battery drain to near 0% puts stress on the battery cells, which can accelerate long-term degradation.
For your daily driving needs, try to keep your battery's state of charge between 20% and 80%. This is the "sweet spot" for battery health. Most modern EVs allow you to set a charging limit directly in the car's infotainment system or mobile app. Set it to 80% or 90% for your daily routine. Of course, for long road trips where you need every bit of range, charging to 100% is perfectly fine—just don't make it a daily habit.
Pro-Tip: Don't "baby" the battery too much. It's designed to be used! The 20-80 rule is a guideline for daily use to maximize longevity. The occasional deep discharge or full charge won't cause any harm.
7. Limit Your Use of DC Fast Chargers
DC fast chargers are incredible for long-distance travel, allowing you to add hundreds of kilometres of range in under 30 minutes. However, this high-speed charging process generates a lot of heat and puts the battery under significantly more stress than slower Level 2 AC charging.
Think of it like eating: a slow, leisurely meal is better for your digestive system than wolfing down a huge meal in two minutes. For your daily charging needs, a Level 2 charger at home or at work is the healthiest option for your battery. Relying on DC fast charging for all your charging needs is one of the quickest ways to accelerate battery degradation.
Pro-Tip: Reserve DC fast charging for road trips or emergency situations. The convenience is undeniable, but your battery's long-term health is best served by gentle, slower AC charging for the majority of its life.
8. Drive Like You Have a Glass of Water on the Dash
Sudden, hard acceleration might be fun, but it's also a massive energy drain. Every time you stomp on the accelerator, you are demanding a huge peak power draw from the battery. A smoother, more progressive driving style is far more efficient.
Imagine there's a full glass of water on your dashboard, and your goal is to not spill a single drop. This forces you to accelerate gently, maintain a steady speed, and decelerate smoothly. This driving style not only maximizes your range but also makes for a more comfortable and relaxing ride for you and your passengers. It’s a principle we often discuss on the Goh Ling Yong blog: true driving skill isn’t about being fast, it’s about being smooth.
Pro-Tip: Use your car's cruise control on the highway. It is far better at maintaining a constant speed than the average human foot, eliminating the small, inefficient fluctuations in power that waste energy over a long distance.
9. A Visual Brake Check (Yes, Even on an EV)
"But I barely use my brakes!" you might say, thanks to regenerative braking. That’s true, but it’s also why you need to check them. Because they are used less frequently, the components of your friction brakes—the calipers, pads, and rotors—are more susceptible to seizing up from lack of use, especially in wet or salty climates.
A sticking brake caliper or a pad that isn't fully retracting creates constant drag. It's like driving with the handbrake lightly engaged all the time. This drag will sap your range without you even noticing. Once a month, do a quick visual inspection. Look through your wheels at the brake rotors. Do they look clean and shiny, or are they covered in heavy rust or scoring?
Pro-Tip: A few times a month, find a safe, empty stretch of road and perform a few firm (but not emergency) stops. This helps clean any surface rust off the rotors and keeps the caliper pistons moving freely, preventing them from seizing.
10. Don't Forget the Little 12V Battery
Tucked away somewhere in your high-tech EV is a familiar, old-school component: a 12-volt battery, just like the one in an ICE car. This little battery doesn't power the wheels; it powers your car's computers, lights, locks, and all the electronics. Crucially, it's what "wakes up" the main high-voltage battery system when you start the car.
If this 12V battery is weak or failing, it can cause all sorts of bizarre electronic gremlins and even prevent your car from starting, even if the main traction battery is fully charged. Most EVs charge the 12V battery from the main battery, but if the car sits for long periods or if the 12V battery is old, it can fail.
Pro-Tip: If your EV is going to be parked for several weeks, it's a good idea to connect a 12V battery tender (a smart trickle charger) to keep it topped up. This is a small investment that can prevent a major headache.
11. Keep Your Software Up-to-Date
Your EV is more like a smartphone on wheels than a traditional car. Manufacturers are constantly refining their software to improve everything from the infotainment system to, most importantly, the battery management system (BMS) and motor efficiency.
These over-the-air (OTA) software updates can often unlock more range, improve charging speeds, and optimize how the car manages battery temperature. Don't ignore that "Update Available" notification on your screen. These updates are a free and easy way to keep your car running at its peak potential. As a tech enthusiast and writer for Goh Ling Yong, I can't stress this enough—embrace the updates!
Pro-Tip: Connect your car to your home Wi-Fi network. This allows it to download large updates automatically in the background, so it's ready to install the next time you park it for the night.
12. Park with Purpose: Mind the Temperature
Your EV's battery has an optimal temperature range where it operates most efficiently. Extreme cold and extreme heat can both negatively impact its performance, charging speed, and long-term health. Your car has a sophisticated thermal management system to keep the battery in this happy zone, but you can help it out.
Whenever possible, avoid parking your car in direct, scorching sunlight for many hours in the summer. Likewise, in the winter, a garage is much better than leaving it outside in freezing temperatures. If you have to park outside, choose a shady spot in the summer. This reduces the amount of energy the car has to spend cooling or heating its own battery just to maintain a stable temperature while parked.
Pro-Tip: If you live in a very hot or cold climate, plugging in your car (even if you don't need to charge) allows the thermal management system to use grid power instead of the battery to keep the battery pack at a stable temperature.
13. A Clean Car is an Efficient Car
This might seem trivial, but it's true! A clean, waxed car has a smoother surface, which slightly reduces aerodynamic drag compared to a car covered in a layer of dirt and grime. Air flows more smoothly over the clean surface, requiring a tiny bit less energy to push the car through the air at highway speeds.
Is this going to add 50 kilometres to your range? No. But it's a small, incremental gain that contributes to overall efficiency. While you're at it, do a quick check of the car's underside. Make sure all the aerodynamic panels and shields are securely in place and not hanging down, as this can create significant drag.
Pro-Tip: Think of it as a bonus for keeping your car looking good. The act of washing your car also gives you a chance to spot other potential issues, like tire wear or loose trim pieces, before they become bigger problems.
14. Become a Student of Your Own Data
Your EV is a treasure trove of data. Dive into your car's energy consumption screen. It can tell you exactly where your battery power is going. You can often see a breakdown of energy used for driving, climate control, battery conditioning, and other accessories.
Pay attention to how your driving habits affect the real-time consumption graph. You'll quickly learn that high speeds on the highway are a major range killer, while stop-and-go city driving with lots of regenerative braking can be surprisingly efficient. Use this data to learn and adapt. See if you can "beat your high score" for efficiency on your daily commute.
Pro-Tip: Many EVs have a trip planner that can predict your battery percentage upon arrival. Pay attention to these predictions. If the car thinks you'll arrive with a very low battery, try slowing down by just 5-10 km/h on the highway. You'll be amazed at how much this small change in speed can increase your arrival buffer.
Your Journey to EV Mastery
Maintaining your EV's range and battery health isn't about being a technical wizard. It's about being an attentive and mindful owner. By incorporating these 14 simple checks and habits into your routine, you can take control of your vehicle's efficiency, save money on electricity, and ensure its most expensive component—the battery—lasts as long as possible.
These small, consistent efforts compound over time, leading to a more reliable, efficient, and enjoyable ownership experience. You’ve already made the smart choice to go electric; now it's time to unlock its full potential.
What are your go-to DIY tips for preserving your EV's range? Do you have a trick we missed? Share your wisdom in the comments below—let's all learn from each other
About the Author
Goh Ling Yong is a content creator and digital strategist sharing insights across various topics. Connect and follow for more content:
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