Some people may think that taking a road trip in an electric vehicle is a very risky or scary task. However, just like with a gas-powered car, if you plan accordingly and understand where and how long you will have to stop to charge along the way, it really isn’t much different than driving a non-EV.
1: Plan Your Trip Using the Car’s Navigation System
Luckily, the VinFast VF8 also makes it easy to plan a road trip by simply inputting your destination into the in-car navigation system that will take into account charging stations and intervals to ensure you don’t have to get range anxiety along the way. And don’t worry, charging from 10% battery up to 70% takes just 31 minutes. Timing your charging stops with bathroom and eating breaks will help pass the time more quickly.
2: Make Sure Your Maintenance Is Taken Care of
While an EV doesn’t need most traditional services, such as an oil change, it is still crucial to check that your tires are in good shape, or if they need to be rotated, you should do that before your trip. Tires are not only important for ride quality or traction in poor weather conditions, but also to braking and driving range. Tires that are over or underinflated can have quite an impact on driving range and stopping distances, as well as overall ride quality.
3: Have The VinFast Mobile App Downloaded with Payment Attached
The VinFast mobile app allows users to basically go up to any EV charging station and get started without having to first download that charging company’s app. However, you should make sure that the app is updated and that you have a good form of payment attached to the app so that you can easily pay for your charging. Most other car companies don’t have any of the charging stations’ apps featured in their app. However, the VinFast app does. This way, you only need one app to charge your car versus having half a dozen with your credit card information attached to all of them.
4: Use Your Cruise Control as Much as Possible
One of the best ways to maximize your range and driving efficiency is to utilize your cruise control system. Thanks to the cruise control, it can handle acceleration and braking for you as well as steering to keep you in your respective lane. Using these systems helps the vehicle maintain one speed that won’t fluctuate as often. The more you are on and off of the accelerator, the more energy you are using. If you are in traffic, the regenerative braking system will help to return some of the energy lost and convert it to range.
5: Chill With the AC Usage
Too much use of the air conditioning system can have negative impacts on range. For instance, a 2019 study by AAA said that running the air conditioning at the highest speed for long periods has as much as a 17% impact on your range. Before driving off, you should properly cool your interior while charging for about 5-10 minutes before driving off. From there, you can leave the system in eco or auto modes to help maintain a proper temperature and fan speed that won’t reduce your driving range.
At Ewing VinFast of Plano, we have the best prices on dozens of new VinFast EVs and used cars. Our well-educated sales staff and finance department will happily assist you with your EV questions and needs. Our fantastic service department will ensure your vehicle stays in the best condition.
We look forward to serving you.