Significantly lowering the official consumption of your electric car is possible, and we'll tell you how to do it

Antonio Roncero @roncero_antonio 6 October 2023 6 min.

Using the minimum amount of energy when driving an electric car is possible, even lowering the consumption figure homologated by the manufacturer. We’ve tested it on the CUPRA Born Challenge, and we’ll tell you how to do it.

Unlike what happens with combustion engine cars, where efficient driving is aimed at reducing consumption as much as possible so that the wallet doesn’t suffer, with electric cars, where the cost per kilometre is not as “burdensome”, paying attention to the energy consumption indicator usually aims at increasing range. Interestingly, in both cases the key lies precisely in that: practising efficient driving.

However, to achieve it, the approach is not exactly the same in an electric car as in a combustion engine car, due to the characteristics of battery vehicles, which allow energy to be recovered during deceleration and braking phases. This is “free” energy that adds to what you can save by being careful at the wheel, and it translates into fewer kWh needed to cover the same kilometres… or extra energy to go further without recharging.

And you surely know how difficult it is not only to meet but to reduce the homologated consumption in the WLTP cycle of combustion engine cars. But does the same happen with electric cars? Is it possible to reduce, in real use, the consumption they advertise, or to increase the range homologated in dynamometer tests? We tested it in the Cupra Born Challenge, a fun and interesting road test proposed by the Spanish brand with its model Cupra Born, and the result is positive.

CUPRA Born Challenge: a challenge with surprising results

CUPRA’s proposal was to drive the CUPRA Born e-Boost Battery Pack, with a 231 CV motor and a 77 kWh battery, which homologates a combined-cycle consumption of 15.8 kWh/100 km and a range of up to 549 km, and to use as little energy as possible over a route of almost 120 km combining some motorway and plenty of secondary roads, with two sole limitations: complying with traffic regulations and not exceeding a maximum time of 2 hours to complete the route.

The result? The average of the best results achieved in each of the rounds in which the tests were carried out, always with ten cars competing in each, came to around 13.5 kWh/100 km, with an absolute best record in one of the rounds very close to 12 kWh/100 km, which would take the range to almost 650 km. A demonstration of how efficient an electric car like the CUPRA Born can really be, although achieving this result requires applying some “tricks” beyond efficient driving, which are not recommended for real use.

The best tricks for saving while driving an electric car

How can you reduce the official homologated consumption of an electric car by more than 20%? The first rule boils down to two things: smoothness and anticipation. It is extremely important to drive looking as far ahead as possible to identify opportunities for the car to coast without consuming energy… or to use the controls within reach depending on the car (paddles, lever, brake pedal) to recover energy during deceleration or braking phases. This applies both in city driving, for example when approaching a traffic light, and on the road, taking advantage of gradients and recovering as much as possible on downhill stretches.

Needless to say, the best thing if you want to consume as little as possible is to activate the “ECO” mode that virtually all electric cars have (on the CUPRA Born it is called “Range”), which limits power and throttle response, and usually also sets the climate control to a less powerful mode. On some cars, this mode automatically activates “coasting” or sailing navigation (as if you put the car in neutral in a combustion engine car, to put it simply); but if your car does not have this function, you can always “play” with the gear selector and select “N” at specific moments.

Of course, to achieve the figures mentioned above in a “challenge” like this one, it is also necessary to apply some “tricks” that we do NOT recommend putting into practice except in cases of pressing need, such as a situation where you are running out of battery and the remaining range will not get you to the charging point. These include switching off any element that may consume electricity, such as the climate control or even the multimedia system, and driving with the windows up to avoid altering the aerodynamics. You don’t need it to be summer for you to literally “cook” while driving, or for the windows to fog up quickly in winter, with what that may mean for your safety, that of the occupants and that of other road users.

You can also take advantage of the “slipstream” of another vehicle, which helps your car in the fight against the wind; but if you do, always keep a safe distance and do not get too close to the vehicle in front.

By the way, regarding the star of this CUPRA Born Challenge, it is worth remembering that it is one of the best electric cars in its category for ride comfort, smoothness, driving feel and value for money. It comes with a 58 kWh battery and ranges of 204 CV and up to 420 km of range; or with a 77 kWh battery, 230 CV and up to 549 km of range. Here you can read the road test of the CUPRA Born e-Boost, the version featured in the Cupra Born Challenge and, it must be said too, the one we like best in the range, which, with the Plan Moves and the rest of the tax aid, plus the brand’s promotion, comes to just over 33,000 euros.

And if you want to delve a little deeper into efficient driving and saving, here are some articles that will surely help you: