How Far can Your EV go before stopping at these Electric Vehicle Charging Stations

For years, the idea of electric cars ruling our roads seemed like a distant fantasy. But as the world shifts to an increasingly environmentally-friendly attitude, the automotive industry has begun making electric cars a reality considering vehicles contribute largely to air pollution. With more brands moving their focus towards the expansion of the EV segment, we can expect more EVs on the road within the next 20 or 30 years.  

But How Does an EV Work? 

There are debates on whether electric cars are convenient as they are fully battery-operated. EVs are powered by plugging the car into a charge point – which you may have seen in certain car parks or gas stations in Malaysia – and they take in the electricity from the grid. 

The electricity is then stored in the vehicle’s rechargeable battery to power up the electric motor that turns the wheels and accelerates the car. 

Are EVs Better Than Conventional Cars? 

Compared to cars that are powered by petrol, electric cars have a shorter driving range and may take a while to recharge. Hence, the question of convenience is there as if your car’s battery depletes, your only source of powering it up again is at a charging station. 

Conversely, EVs essentially have less parts and require less maintenance than internal combustion engines, and are less harmful to the environment –  EVs are more efficient in converting energy into movement compared to conventional gasoline or diesel. 

EVs also work better with renewable energy sources, while also producing no harmful emissions from their tailpipe. 

5 Factors that Affect an Electric Car’s Driving Range

In Malaysia, though the EV industry is just picking up, electric vehicle charging stations are popping up almost everywhere and the use of such cars are gradually rising. 

But there is a lot of talk about the driving range of an EV as a main concern of a potential electric car buyer is how far the car can actually go with a single charge. Generally, the range that an all-electric car can travel before it needs to be recharged varies from 120km to 350km, but it all depends on these five factors. 

1. Battery Range

The biggest factor that affects the range of an EV is the capacity of its lithium-ion battery. This basically refers to the amount of electricity and how densely the battery cells are stored in the lithium-ion battery. If the battery cells are stored more densely, the longer your driving range would be.

Apart from that, battery degradation can also affect the driving range. Over time, when an EV’s battery slowly loses its capacity, the amount of electricity that can be stored in it would be lesser compared to a new battery which in turn, lowers the driving range of an EV.

2. Speed 

We all know that driving at high speeds is dangerous but with EVs, high acceleration can also reduce your electric car’s efficiency – the faster you drive, the more work the battery has to do. Hence, you lose battery power quickly.

We have listed a table below which shows the approximate relationship between constant speed and driving range. From here, you will notice that driving at a lower speed helps increase your driving range percentage.

3. Driving Style

Similar to how mileage gets affected in a car that is powered by petrol, an EV’s range is also determined by how well you drive. We know that acceleration can drastically reduce battery life, so sudden or frequent acceleration will essentially have an impact on its driving range.

4. Tire Condition

While an electric car requires a lot less in terms of servicing, there is a need to keep a close watch on the tires. Automotive companies usually fit electric cars with low-rolling resistance tires to expand on its range, but this compromises the tire grip itself.  

Nevertheless, old and worn-out tires will definitely affect the performance of a car, no matter if it is running on fuel or battery power –  bad tires are overall dangerous to drive with! 

5. Road Condition 

Going uphill or downhill will have a vast difference on your EV’s driving range. Going up would need more energy while breaking and moving naturally while going downhill will save some energy. So, the battery power would surely deplete slower when you are moving downhill. Just like a normal petrol-driven car, the condition of different road surfaces would also impact the driving range of a car.

Electric Cars with the Longest Driving Range

1.Tesla Model S (Range: 575 kilometers)

The Tesla Model S is a full-sized sedan electric car with luxury liftback doors produced by Tesla Motors. It is labeled as the “3rd fastest accelerating production car ever produced” and has a driving range that is higher than any other EVs.

2.Tesla Model 3 (Range: 560 Kilometers) 

The Tesla Model 3 is a mid-sized all-electric luxury EV that can travel as far as 560 kilometers on one battery charge. This car has the ability to accelerate from zero to 100 kilometers per hour in under five seconds. It offers high-tech features such as the centrally mounted landscape display that has all the information from satellite navigation to wiper control.

3.Tesla Model X (Range: 470 Kilometers) 

The Tesla Model X is a luxury Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) that uses the same chassis, battery, and electric motors as the Model S. It also shares the same central touchscreen on the dashboard and Autopilot system, as well as access to the Supercharger network for speedy charging.

4.Nissan Leaf e+ (Range: 240 Kilometers)

The Nissan Leaf is the most affordable everyday electric car that can be found in Malaysia. The latest upgrade that comes in the form of Nissan Leaf e+ is able to go from zero to 100 kilometers in under eight seconds and there are several driving modes that you can pick from.

5. BMW i3 (Range: 240 Kilometers) 

This BMW i3 is a quick ride that is able to go from zero to 100 kilometers in under seven seconds. This car is well worth considering if you are looking for an electric hatchback in Malaysia that’s easy to drive around every day.

Here is a List of Electric Vehicle Charging Stations in Malaysia

Taking into consideration the growing demand for EVs and PHEVs in Malaysia, you can find over 300 chargEV charging stations all over Malaysia to help keep your battery full. Not only that, but there are also over 60 Petronas stations located along major highways that are equipped with chargEV charging stations for the convenience of their customers.

1. Electric Vehicle Charging Stations in Johor

2. Electric Vehicle Charging Stations in Kedah

3.Electric Vehicle Charging Stations in Kuala Lumpur

4.Electric Vehicle Charging Stations in Melaka

5.Electric Vehicle Charging Stations in Negeri Sembilan

6.Electric Vehicle Charging Stations in Pahang

7. Electric Vehicle Charging Stations in Perak

8.Electric Vehicle Charging Stations in Penang

9.Electric Vehicle Charging Stations in Sarawak

10. Electric Vehicle Charging Stations in Selangor

11.Electric Vehicle Charging Stations in Putrajaya

So, if you are interested in electric cars but are worried about driving long distances in Malaysia,  charging stations are readily available anywhere. But don’t forget to take note of the factors that affect the driving range too! 

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