Did you know that you can find public chargers at places like supermarkets, malls and gyms, and at least every 75km along most of New Zealand's state highways?
To help you have the best roadie EVer we checked in with our friends at GEN LESS to give you some top tips for planning that electric roadie.
1. Start with a full tank
Start your roadie with 100% charge. It’s the cheapest and most convenient to charge at home, so this will get you the best bang for your buck.
If you have to top up on your journey, add only as much as you need to get to your next charging destination, to minimise the amount of time you need to stop to charge along the way. This kind of ‘snack’ charging won’t impact the battery health of modern EVs.
As a rule, the most you should top up to on a public fast charger is 80%. This is because the last 20% of the battery takes much longer to charge.
2. Don't forget
- Pack your charger, so you’re able to use AC chargers when you have more time to plug in.
- Use a route-planning app (below) to ID the best chargers to use along the way.
- Make sure you’ve downloaded any apps you need to be able to use different providers’ chargers ahead of time.
3. Plug ‘n’ stay
More and more accommodation providers have chargers available for their guests – and with the growing fleet, it’s becoming a desirable amenity for operators to provide.
When you’re booking accomodation, sites like Airbnb and Trivago let you filter for spots with EV chargers, while hotels and camp sites will list it in their features.
Tips for using a fast charger
- No cable required. All fast charging stations have tethered CHAdeMO and/or CCS Type 2 cables.
- Create an account online first. Once signed up, you can access the fast charging network and enjoy easy billing and payment.
- Fast charge occasionally rather than frequently. It seems to be better for your battery.
- In a hurry? Charge to 80%. The last 20% of the battery takes longer to charge, so use the option to charge only to 80%.
- Check with your manufacturer to find out what's best for your particular vehicle.
You can read the full article here
