Holy Week driving tips for electric car owners

THIS long 2023 Holy Week break (record-breaking, at least to my memory) has triggered a temporary tourist migration. Residents of Manila are expected to empty the capital and fill up AirBnBs, lodges, hotels, bed and breakfasts and glamping sites all over Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao.

Those driving to fulfill their travel lust will bring their sedans and MPVs, negotiate the tarmac and switch between terrains, most likely in the middle of the sweltering heat. As they do so, fossil fuel-powered vehicles both absorb the ambient hotness and contribute to the parching temperatures dissipating heat from the exhaust, radiator, and engine block.

Electric cars pose a totally different challenge when driving in the oppressive summer heat in the country.Running out of gas (an unheard-of problem these days, unless a tank gets punctured or someone forgot to fill up) will be a persistent problem for an EV–the range is affected by all the appliances in a car that draw electricity from the main battery. Air conditioning is one of them. In my recent test drives with the Weltmeister W5 and the Nissan LEAF, powering the air conditioner takes anywhere from 5 to 7 kilometers off the range.

Here are some tips Malaya Business Insight observed or compiled from authorities like the Automobile Association of the Philippines (AAP), the American Automobile Association (AAA), the experts from EV makers Vinfast in Vietnam, and BYD China, as well as Nissan and Weltmeister, which are distributors of EVs in the country.

1. Plan your route well. Crucial to a long trip in a country where there are less than 100 charging stations all over the archipelago is to plan the trip. Before embarking on a long-distance trip, plan your route to ensure that you have access to charging stations along the way. Remember Shell has a charging point in Mamplasan, Northbound while Unioil has two filling stations that offer charging. Nissan has dealers all over Manila and in selected provinces, but only Nissan Mantrade has a fast DC charger. Ayala and SM Malls have charging stations and BYD also has one in BGC. Also use apps or websites that show charging stations and their availability or contact your dealer for them to know you are going out of town and that they are ready for any eventuality.
2. Of course, charge up. Charge your EV to full capacity before hitting the road, and stop to charge whenever your battery level drops to about 20-30 percent. Charge times can vary depending on the charging station type, so plan for longer stops if necessary.
3. Be constantly aware of range limitations. Since EVs have a limited driving range depending on the battery size and driving conditions. These driving conditions include knowing how many passengers are on board, their weight and the weight of your baggage. Like air conditioning, the payload affects distance. Be aware of your EV’s range and plan your charging stops accordingly.
4. Monitor your battery level. Keep an eye on your battery level throughout your trip to ensure that you have enough charge to reach your destination or the next charging station. This may build up range anxiety but awareness is also very important.
5. Keep your battery cool. High temperatures can affect the performance of your EV’s battery. If possible, park your car in a shaded area or in a garage to keep it cool. You can also pre-cool your car before driving using the app or built-in features.
6. Adjust your driving habits. During the summer months, it’s a good idea to adjust your driving habits to conserve battery charge. This might mean driving at lower speeds, using more regenerative braking, and avoiding sudden accelerations and stops.

If you own a Nissan LEAF there are some more tips that I gained from driving one extensively for a whole week:

1. Maximize you distance by using e-Pedal and B mode more. Nissan’s EVs come with e-Pedal and B mode features that help maximize regenerative braking and extend your driving range. Use these features to help conserve energy and increase your range. On the Nissan Kicks, the B-Mode isn’t as strong as that in the LEAF, but works really well to get up to charge, besides the Kicks falls in the category of an ICE vehicle when it comes to managing it in long drives.
2. Use the range estimator. Keep an eye on your battery level throughout your trip to ensure that you have enough charge to reach your destination or the next charging station. Nissan’s EVs have a range estimator that helps you track your driving range based on your current battery level and driving habits.
3. Use the Nissan LEAF’s pre-cooling feature which can be accessed through the NissanConnect EV app, which allows the driver to remotely activate the air conditioning system and cool the interior of the vehicle before entering it. The LEAF’s air conditioning system will then activate and begin cooling the interior to the specified temperature before the driver enters the vehicle
4. Get support from Nissan. Nissan provides support for EV owners through its delaers, who in turn provide services, which include free access to charging stations, and repair and towing. It’s a good idea to give them a ring and tell them of your travel plans.

Nissan recommends that EV owners be prepared and informed when embarking on long-distance trips, and take advantage of the available technology and support to make the most of their EV driving experience.

Applicable to both EVs and ICE vehicles

1. Ensure roadworthiness. Extreme heat takes a toll on vehicles–even new ones. According to the AAP, the most common issue in these summer road trips is a flat tire or in extreme situations, a tire blowout. Cooling issues rank second and brake failures third.
2. Be prepared for unexpected delays. The AAA said that there are so many rapidly changing conditions during a vacation trip. Unexpected delays caused by road closures and detours, a breakdown along the SLEX or NLEX slows the traffic down to almost nil. There are other incidents can impact your travel time and battery (or gasoline) usage. Be prepared to adjust your route or charging plan as needed.
3. Despite its best effort, the Anti-Distracted Driving Law does not work. So, keep an eye out for distracted drivers. Texting while driving, or even adjusting Waze setting, distracted drivers and motorcyclists are already a threat on the roads. Add the summer heat and the tensions that traffic can bring and more distractions are added to the mix. Don’t blast your horn at a distracted driver though, just keep your distance.
4. Pay attention to weather forecasts. Check the forecast before you leave, check it at a stop. Though the weather is normally constantly hot, there were many instances, in my book when there was a sudden downpour in the middle of the summer day.
5. The heat is on. Respect the effects of heat on yourself and on your car. Sunblock is crucial as well as is hydration. Consider your eyes too and wear polarized sunglasses. The AAA says that no matter where you are heat exhaustion can make drivers drowsy. The heat not only affects the radiator and cooling systems, it also lessens braking distance. An overheated vehicle will definitely leave you stranded.

Added very important tips when driving with children

1. Don’t cram the car. A crammed car reduces a child’s breathing space and are to move about or transfer energy. This is difficult with families with more than 2 kids with a sedan and requires child seats. The way to manage it is by prudent and judicious packing. Here is my personal take being a father of five and traveling every weekend and vacation days in a year with them.
   • Make a master list of 50 necessary items–diapers, swim wear, toys, food, juices and then cut it down to 30 needed items then to 10 crucial items. You’ll be amazed how little you will carry by the time you are on the road.
   • Food and water essentials. A liter of water each person is enough and light snacks only. Plan your route so you will pass a restaurant by brunch (don’t stop during lunch time when every place is full, take the in between hours).
   • Kid friendly stop overs. A little research reveals what places are kid friendly are what are not.
2. Child seats please. To get kids used to child seats, it is best to sit them in one at the youngest possible time. That means right after birth. Though Republic Act (RA) 11229 or the Child Safety in Motor Vehicles Act was deferred, by former President Duterte, Congress has questioned the move but the courts of the land have not acted on it. This does not mean however that parents should not be concerned about where to sit their children or about the hazards of an untethered child.
3. No electronic games and devices. Imagine driving and having different noises from games and YouTube feeds. Even if you have you kids don earphone or headphones, they might end up puking in the car because of motion sickness, which is proven by a study published by Applied Ergonomics in 2012 which found that children who played video games while riding in a car experienced higher levels of motion sickness than those who did not.

Driving an EV in summer over long distances is offers a new perspective and dealers and service providers should plan as early as now on how to best serve those who chose the sustainable path of electrification of transportation.