Handy tricks for your electric car, sorted by brand. Pick your brand, tap a video to play it, and share your own. Every hack is checked by a person before it appears.
Written tips that apply to most EVs in Australia. General information only: always check your owner’s manual.
A warm battery charges much faster. Navigate to the fast charger in the car’s own sat nav (most newer EVs then warm the battery on the way), or use the manual preconditioning option if your car has one. It matters most on cold mornings.
Tip by EV Aussie · Tesla Supercharger guide · Charger map
Many makers suggest a daily limit of around 80% for NMC (nickel) batteries, saving 100% for road trips. LFP batteries are different, and some makers (including Tesla) recommend charging them to 100% regularly. Check your owner’s manual for your exact car.
Tip by EV Aussie · Compare EVs
Set a scheduled charge in the car or app to start in your plan’s off-peak or solar-soak window. Many retailers now offer EV or time-of-use plans with cheap overnight or midday rates. Compare plans on the government’s Energy Made Easy site (Victorian Energy Compare in Victoria).
Tip by EV Aussie · EV charging cost guide · Energy Made Easy · Victorian Energy Compare
A Better Route Planner (ABRP) plans charging stops for your exact car, and PlugShare shows recent check-ins so you can see if a charger is working. Always have a back-up charger in mind, especially in regional areas.
Tip by EV Aussie · Road trip planner · PlugShare · ABRP
Many fast-charging networks, including Tesla Superchargers, charge idle or overstay fees if you stay plugged in after charging finishes. Set a notification in the app and move on when you’re done; it’s good etiquette too.
Tip by EV Aussie · Tesla Supercharger guide
A portable (granny) charger on a normal power point adds roughly 10 to 15 km of range an hour. Slow, but a lifesaver at a friend’s place or a caravan park. Use a dedicated, undamaged outlet and avoid extension leads and double adaptors unless your charger’s maker says otherwise.
Tip by EV Aussie · Home charger installation cost
Cold weather lowers tyre pressure and range. Check pressures monthly against the placard on the driver’s door frame. In winter, expect less range and warm the cabin while still plugged in so the heat comes from the wall, not the battery.
Tip by EV Aussie · Cold weather and EVs (US DOE)
Security camera modes (like Tesla Sentry Mode) and camp or climate-keep modes use battery while parked. Turn them off at home or when parked for long periods, or set them to exclude trusted locations if your car allows it.
Tip by EV Aussie
Higher regenerative braking recovers energy when you slow down and makes city driving smoother. Most EVs let you change the regen level or use a one-pedal mode in the settings.
Tip by EV Aussie
Most new EVs in Australia use a CCS2 plug for fast charging and Type 2 for AC. Many public AC chargers are untethered, so keep a Type 2 cable in the car if yours didn’t come with one. Older Nissan Leafs use CHAdeMO for fast charging.
Tip by EV Aussie · Charger map
In Display settings, set the scroll wheel function to the glovebox, then a long press of the left scroll wheel pops it open. No more digging through the screen.
Video by Kelvin Downunder · Watch on YouTube
The rear headrests can be raised: push up from the base, and press the button underneath to lower them again. Handy for taller back-seat passengers.
Video by Mike Seuss Tesla · Watch on YouTube
Swipe down on the navigation box to route home, long-press the map to drop a pin, and hold both scroll wheels to restart the touchscreen if it freezes.
Video by Ryan Shaw · Watch on YouTube
Dog Mode keeps the cabin climate running while you’re away and shows a message on the screen so passers-by know your pet is fine. Keep an eye on the app and never leave a pet for long.
Video by Tesla · Watch on YouTube
Enter your destination in the car’s navigation and Trip Planner adds charging stops, shows how long to charge at each and preconditions the battery on the way.
Video by Tesla · Watch on YouTube
Press the rotate button on the left of the steering wheel, or say “Hi BYD, rotate the screen”, to flip between portrait and landscape.
Video by Magic Monk · Watch on YouTube
Swipe up or down with three fingers on almost any screen (even CarPlay) to change the temperature, and left or right to change the fan speed.
Video by EVs Undone · Watch on YouTube
A quick official run-through from BYD Australia of handy Seal features many owners miss.
Video by BYD Auto Australia · Watch on YouTube
How vehicle-to-load works on the MG4: plugging in the adaptor, setting a discharge limit so you keep enough range, and what you can run.
Video by Pan Motoring (ex Jerry Pan and CARS) · Watch on YouTube
Owner questions answered: everyday charging habits and what to do (and avoid) to look after the MG4’s battery.
Video by Pan Motoring (ex Jerry Pan and CARS) · Watch on YouTube
A quick-fire list of settings and features new Ioniq 5 owners often miss, from regen to comfort settings.
Video by Carlos Vargas · Watch on YouTube
Windows-down shortcuts, nature sounds, display themes, the touch-control timeout and a hidden regen mode on the EV6.
Video by Metz Tech · Watch on YouTube
A fast tour of the basics: starting, driving and charging a Polestar 2. Handy if you’ve just picked one up or hired one.
Video by Hertz · Watch on YouTube
A 25-second owner tip for getting the cabin cool quickly on a hot day.
Video by Drohanmovies · Watch on YouTube
Four short tips from living with a Polestar 2, in just over two minutes.
Video by Zero Planet · Watch on YouTube
Volvo’s own one-minute guide to charging the EX30 well, at home and on the road.
Video by Volvo Car USA · Watch on YouTube
The EX30 has no climate buttons, so this 50-second official tip shows where the controls live on the screen.
Video by Volvo Car USA · Watch on YouTube
How the slim key tag works for locking, unlocking and starting the EX30, in under a minute.
Video by Volvo Car USA · Watch on YouTube
Handy things the i4 key fob can do, and how to set them up, in under three minutes.
Video by Cars With Steve · Watch on YouTube
Mercedes-Benz’s own one-minute guide to driving and settings that help you get more range from an EQ model.
Video by Mercedes-Benz USA · Watch on YouTube
Official tips on looking after an EQ, including the battery and the basics, in about two minutes.
Video by Mercedes-Benz USA · Watch on YouTube
GWM Australia’s quick guide to the Ora’s key features and everyday use.
Video by GWM Australia · Watch on YouTube
A Victorian dealer explains the Leaf’s drive modes and when to use each, in just over a minute.
Video by Campus Nissan Victoria · Watch on YouTube
Zeekr Australia explains the driver settings worth setting up on day one, in under two minutes.
Video by Zeekr Australia · Watch on YouTube
Worth knowing in any EV with electric door handles: where the manual door release is on the Zeekr X.
Video by Zeekr Singapore · Watch on YouTube
Cupra’s own 90-second guide to the Born’s driving features.
Video by CUPRA UK · Watch on YouTube
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