How to extend the driving range in your EV

Range anxiety is a real thing for electric car owners.

No matter where you’re travelling – or how big the battery in the car is – EV owners are always conscious of how far they can go before needing to stop and find a charging station. It’s a new way of thinking.

But there are ways to ease the tension, like forward planning your drive, knowing where the nearest charging stations are located and changing your driving habits to be more economical.

But all that takes time and energy and lessens the convenience of owning an electric car.

However, there is a much simpler way to extend your driving range without even having to think about it, and it’s all about your tyres.

As the only physical part of the vehicle that ever makes contact with the road, your tyres are – quite literally – the touch point that determines how efficient, dynamic and safe your car is.

Electric cars are unique in many ways, not just in the limitations of range but also in the way they drive. As most EVs feature a large battery pack, they are heavier than a conventional vehicle with an internal combustion engine, and the electric motors deliver maximum torque from the moment you touch the accelerator which delivers instantaneous acceleration. And, as many EVs have electric motors on each axle, this means all four tyres are working at their maximum to maintain grip. These factors all contribute to tyre wear.

Thankfully, Hankook has developed its iON range of tyres specifically for electric vehicles to deliver better mileage, as well as reducing road noise while improving comfort, handling and durability. It’s a win-win-win scenario.

Well, first of all, let’s talk about how they can help improve the driving range. As the tyres touch the road, they produce friction which equates to drag. With a higher rate of drag, the electric motors have to use more energy to cover the same distance.

To counteract this effect, Hankook iON tyres feature an exclusive treatment, called Opti Cure Technology, that ensures that all elements of the tyre’s compound are cured at the same temperature. This reduces the rolling resistance of the tyre which, in turn, means the motors use less energy and, consequently, increases driving range.

Hankook claims its iON tyres will improve battery range by up to 6.3 percent, delivering an additional 32km in an EV with an estimated range of 500km. That could be another daily commute to work and back before needing to recharge, or the difference between finding a charging station and running out of electricity on a long-distance drive in the country.

More than that, Hankook iON tyres last up to 25 percent longer than similar tyres from rival brands too thanks to their unique ProDurable compound that uses advanced fillers and flexible rubber materials, as well as the adoption of Round Even Technology that optimises the contact structure to achieve a uniform contact patch.

In fact, Hankook offers a guarantee that its iON AS range tyres will provide at least 70,000km of driving before needing to be replaced, and will pay the difference (on a pro rata basis) for your next set if they don’t.

The improved rolling resistance and durability doesn’t compromise the handling and performance of Hankook’s iON tyres, however. In a recent test conducted by leading independent certification, testing and auditing company, TUV SUD, the Hankook iON outperformed three EV tyres from its competitors in almost every dynamic assessment, including dry and wet weather braking and lateral wet grip.

Enhancing the serenity of driving an electric vehicle, the Hankook iON reduces road noise by up to 30 percent compared to some of its rivals. This is due to a number of factors, the first of which is the use of Quiet Flex Technology which incorporates noise absorbing material inside the tyre construction to reduce cavity noise by up 9dB.

Secondly, the Hankook iON tyres have a specialised tread pattern with Noise Guard Technology applied inside each of the grooves that widens the area and, lastly, by using creating a pattern with Optimised Multi-Patch sequencing which varies the number and size of the grooves to create different frequencies which cancel each other out, in much the same way that active noise cancelling headphones work.

Another benefit to give you peace of mind is the iON 14 day satisfaction guarantee program. If you’re not satisfied with the iON tyres for any reason, Hankook will exchange it for a new set of Hankook tyres for the equivalent value of the original tyres purchased or refund your purchase price.

Tyres must be returned to the original place of purchase within 14 days from the date of purchase, to redeem the offer.

So, when it comes to choosing tyres for an electric vehicle, the Hankook iON range will literally drive you further, without compromising on comfort, performance and durability.

For more information on the Hankook iON range, and to find your nearest dealer, visit their website.