Top Five Tips to Keep EV Drivers Charged Up This Holiday Season

Top Four Tips to Keep EV Drivers Charged Up This Holiday Season

CAMPBELL, CA – The holiday season is the busiest time of year on the road and at shopping centers. The National Retail Federation projects 2013 holiday sales to rise by 3.9%, and for some retailers, the holiday season can represent as much as 20 to 40% of annual sales. For the over 150,000 electric vehicle (EV) drivers in the U.S., it is important to know where they can shop and travel while plugging in. Check out the below tips to help make sure you’re charged up for all of your holiday travel and shopping, while staying safe and saving money.

#1: Crowded Parking Lots – Check Out EV Priority Parking

The holidays are always a crazy time at grocery stores, malls and other retailers. Check out the ChargePoint map to see where charging stations are located in your area.

Not only can you charge up while shopping, you may also get priority parking, which is a great perk when facing the seasonal parking lot traffic jams. Some major retailers who offer their customers ChargePoint stations include Target, Whole Foods and Safeway.

#2: Save Money -- Charge During Off Peak Hours

Since winter electric bills generally run high, you can switch to Time-of-Use rate and pay less on your electric bill when charging at off-peak hours. Some utility providers also offer lower rates for alternative fueled cars. Ask your utility provider if they offer a Time-of-Use rate or an Alternative Fuel Rate.

#3: Maximize EV Efficiency -- Check Your Tire Pressure

For safety reasons alone, it’s always a good idea to keep an eye on your tire pressure, and some EV drivers say that by keeping your tire pressure at maximum capacity, you can also help to increase range. It is very important however, to first check your vehicle’s manual for recommended pressure levels or refer to an online tool.

#4: Protect Against Cold Weather -- Keep Charging

Thermal management systems are designed to keep your battery warm if temperatures outside drop too low. If your EV has a thermal management system, cold winter weather makes it more likely that your vehicle will lose battery energy even when it's parked and not in use. When the thermal management system kicks in, it uses battery energy and can reduce the normal range of an EV by 30 percent or more. You should also consider using your car heater in moderation to increase range. If possible, park indoors to save battery life or plug in more often to stay charged and warm.

About ChargePoint

ChargePoint is the largest and most open electric vehicle (EV) charging network in the world, with more than 14,000 charging locations and a 65%+ market share. Ranked #1 by leading independent research firm, Navigant Research, ChargePoint makes advanced hardware and best-in-class cloud based software. ChargePoint’s open network is utilized by many leading EV hardware makers and encourages all EV charging manufacturers to join.

ChargePoint also manages the only mobile app that provides EV drivers with real-time information, including availability of charging locations throughout the nation. Every 11 seconds, a driver connects to a ChargePoint station and by initiating over 3 million charging sessions, ChargePoint drivers have saved over 2.6 million gallons of gasoline and avoided 20 million pounds of CO₂ emissions.

For more information about ChargePoint, visit www.chargepoint.com.