Useful info with the crowds towards holiday and recreational destinations
There is nothing worse than getting stuck in traffic with an almost empty tank. Okay, that’s a lie: Stepping on your dog’s tail and not being able to explain that it was an accident is heartbreaking and worse. But it is extremely stressful to be on the highway in a never-ending traffic jam while the last droplets disappear from the tank. And what about traffic jams in an electric car? Is that, just like with a petrol car, bad for consumption?
Traffic jams are bad for fuel consumption
Accelerating with a fuel car takes a lot of energy – just look at the consumption meter in the car. Especially if it is a traffic jam where things keep moving and the brakes are applied again, you can say goodbye to your neat average. In cars with conventional combustion engines without hybrid systems, the energy disappears again when you brake. You have to refuel to get moving.
Driving in traffic jams with an electric car is actually quite okay
The situation is different with electric cars. During traffic jams with an electric car, you recover energy when braking – just the same with a hybrid. Not all the energy, but some. Electric cars are most efficient at low speeds. Also take a look at the consumption of an EV: in the city the range is greater. It has to do with air resistance.
If you look ahead yourself and ensure that you do not come to a complete standstill every time, a traffic jam can actually be beneficial for your range. Suppose you cover about 20 kilometers at a speed of about 10 km/h in an electric car, then that will cost less power than the same 20 kilometers at a speed of 130 km/h. Accelerating and braking is always a waste of energy. In addition, you probably just want to hear your music and feel cool air from the air conditioning. This all costs electricity per minute and not per kilometer.
Is a traffic jam the best thing that can happen to an EV?
The bland conclusion is that it largely depends on the driver’s driving behaviour. This is no different with a fuel car. The conclusion is that you do not immediately have to get stressed if you have to drive in traffic jams with an electric car. If you drive in a controlled manner, then it is not even a problem. It is wise to take a good look at the length of the traffic jam, the remaining range and any charging points. And keep in mind that charging points along holiday routes can be very busy.
