10 Proven Tips to Maximize Your EV Range in Saudi Summer

1. Pre-condition while plugged in. Start your AC while the car is still charging. The cabin cools on grid power instead of battery power, which saves 5-10% of your range.

2. Park in the shade. It sounds obvious, but it makes a big difference. A car parked in direct Saudi sun can reach 70°C inside. In the shade, the car needs less energy to cool the cabin when you start driving.

3. Use recirculation mode. Set your AC to recirculate cabin air rather than draw in fresh air. Cooling air that is already cool takes much less energy than cooling 45°C outside air.

4. Set your AC to 23-24°C, not lower. Each degree below 23°C raises energy use noticeably. The seat cooler (if your car has one) with the AC at 24°C feels as comfortable as 20°C AC and uses much less energy.

5. Check your tire pressure. Heat raises tire pressure, which helps range because rolling resistance drops. But make sure your tires aren't above the maximum safe pressure. The best pressure for range is usually 2-3 PSI above the door sticker recommendation.

6. Drive smoothly. Hard acceleration costs more range than anything else. Use eco mode, accelerate gently and keep a steady speed. On the highway, driving at 110 km/h instead of 130 km/h can improve range by 15-20%.

7. Plan your charging. In summer, charge to 80% for daily driving rather than 90%. Charging above 80% in high temperatures is slower and puts more stress on the battery. Save the 100% charge for days when you need the extra range.

8. Use regenerative braking. Set regenerative braking to its strongest level. In the stop-and-go traffic common in Riyadh and Jeddah, strong regen can recover a lot of energy.

9. Keep your battery cool. If you can, don't fast charge when your battery is already hot. The battery management system will slow the charging speed anyway, and charging a hot battery speeds up degradation. Charge in the evening when temperatures drop.

10. Maintain your EV. A well-maintained EV gets better range. Clean cabin filters, correct wheel alignment, correct tire pressure and up-to-date software all help. Schedule a summer preparation service at EVS, covering mechanical maintenance and battery health checks, to get your EV ready for the heat.