A motoring expert from Vanarama has revealed the five luxury features that will drain electric car batteries fastest this winter.
Turning on the car’s air conditioning or heater can also impact efficiency in petrol and diesel vehicles but many luxuries on this list are exclusive to EVs.
It means owners must take extra precautions while behind the wheel to make sure they will reach their destination or a charging bay before their battery runs to zero.
The leasing company explained in a TikTok video: “Which convenience features will drain an EV’s battery the most? Well, we did some tests to find out.
“In reverse order sat navs. Yes, those directions will use up your battery.”
According to Vanarama, navigation systems are likely to take up around five percent of the battery’s duration over the course of a journey.
Cold air conditioning is next with tests putting the number at around 11 percent. Vanarama added: “Probably the biggest surprise is that’s not further up the list.”
Windscreen demisters were next with the setting likely to use up around 12 percent of the battery. Meanwhile, heated seats and windscreen wipers drain around the same amount with tests putting this at 15 percent.
However, a common feature motorists are likely to use in winter will have the biggest impact on battery life.
Vanarama said: “The worst thing is heating. Using your air con to what the car drains quite a lot of battery.”
The motoring group has estimated the setting uses up almost one-fifth (17 percent) of a batteries charge.
Underneath the clip, some social media users suggested the revelations were a reason why they were not impressed with electric vehicles.
TikTok user @th3nighthound commented: “This is why electric cars won’t work in my neck of the world, so much stop/start traffic, cold weather, wet weather, they won’t last.”
@mariusmusat24 wrote: “Dear god electric cars are a disaster.” @veedubsolutions admitted turning on the heater has an effect on their battery life but the impact appears to be smaller than first thought.
They remarked: “Only thing that seems to [affect] my range is the heater blowers. I lose about 15 miles total range by having them on. Everything else is on the 12v.”
