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HOW TO PLAN FOR A LONGER TRIP IN YOUR ELECTRIC CAR.
With zero driving emissions, tonnes of torque and serious savings on fuel, nothing quite beats all-electric driving. And there’s no reason you can’t rely on your electric car for those long-distance trips too – whether you’re visiting your in-laws for the weekend or taking the whole clan camping. Check out our top tips and simple tricks for planning a long trip with an electric car.
PLAN YOUR ROUTE FOR PLUGGING IN.
This one might be obvious but it’s probably the most important. Check out a charging map before you set off to get an idea of how many charging points are on your route, where you can find them and when might make sense for you to stop. The all-electric MINI Cooper’s smart Navigation System includes a handy charging map that shows all compatible charging stations in range, before routing to your chosen one. Easy.
MAKE THE MOST OF MINI CHARGING.
MINI Charging gives you easy access to over 20,000 charging points in the UK. Once you’ve registered to join the network, you just scan your charging card or the mobile app at the charging point. You’ll then be billed for any usage at the end of the month, and you can keep track of your spending in your online account at any time.
There’s also the option to choose a MINI Charging subscription package with one of our partnered networks, IONITY Plus and bp pulse. For as little as £7.85 a month, you get discounted rates at their charging points, plus other great benefits. Check out the tariffs and all the info you need below.
LEAVE TIME TO CHARGE.
Once you’ve found where to charge, you need to make sure you leave enough time in your journey’s schedule for charging. Luckily, with high-speed charging options at most motorway service stations, your car’s battery could be up to 80% in as little time as it takes you to refuel with a sandwich. And for added convenience, the all-electric MINI Cooper comes with a CCS socket, meaning it’s compatible with virtually any public charger in the UK – and beyond!
LESS IS MORE.
Did you know charging your electric vehicle’s battery between 10-80% is often more efficient than waiting for a one-time full charge? And that charging actually becomes slower once it gets above 80% capacity? You do now. So for maximum range, try not to let it go right down to empty and avoid charging all the way up to 100%.
STAY CHILLED.
We know you can’t control the weather. But you should be aware that very high temperatures cause your battery to lose power and even degrade faster – even with the battery cooling systems working hard. That’s why you should avoid leaving your car in direct sunlight for long periods when the temperature is high (above 30 degrees), especially if it’s fully charged.
TAKE THE SCENIC ROUTE.
It can be tempting to try and get from A to B as quickly as possible. But if you’re not in a rush, taking a slightly longer or slower route can work wonders on your battery life. That’s because steadier speeds use less power, plus braking more often helps to regenerate the battery. And let’s face it, those country roads are much more scenic than the M5.
MEET THE ALL-ELECTRIC MINI COOPER.
Now you know how to plan for a longer trip in an electric car, it’s the perfect time to check out our marvellous all-electric MINI Cooper. All torque and all action, it promises that trademark MINI spirit and go-kart handling with zero driving emissions – plus more standard features than ever. Find out more below.
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