7 Tips for more Range and less Anxiety on EV motorcycles
Range anxiety IS a real thing, but it doesn’t have to be something that you need to live with while riding your electric motorcycle. I’ve been riding electric motorcycles for 3.5 years and have accumulated just over 55,000 miles in that short amount of time. I’ve learned the hard way (ie - pushing a dead motorcycle) on how to really push the limits of range on EV motorcycles, and want to share my tips on how you can get the most mileage out of your bike, but also give you some tools to use should you get too close to that max range on your bike.
What affects range?
Knowing the main factors that impact your range is the first step to recognizing when and where to apply the tips and techniques I’ll discuss here. These are distilled and very generalized explanations, so you can put down that chemical and electrical engineering degree.
High speeds
Riding uphill
Cold weather
Headwinds
Rolling resistance
Weight carried
Quick acceleration
Slow your roll
If you want to get the most range out of your bike, go slower. Speed is the number one killer in range in just about every electric motorcycle. The reason you have power is because of the chemical reaction happening between your legs. Your EV motorcycle is like a power plant, to make power it also needs power. The more power output you need, the more power the bike needs to make it. So if you want to make that battery last longer, you need to reduce the power output. Depending on your travel speed, reducing by just 5mph (8kph) can squeeze out a few extra miles. Bikes with cruise control make this easy, however for those that are still analog, good luck to you. The next time you’re out riding, take note of your available range and then drop your speed by 5mph. Cruise for a mile or two and see what happens to available range, it should start slowing down or leveling out depending on your original speed. I’ve found that all EV motorcycles have an optimal cruise speed - a good balance of travel speed and range. The LiveWire One is 55 mph, and the S2 Del Mar is 45 mph - both are guaranteed to get me 100 miles (or 1 mile per 1% battery).
2. Avoid elevation gains
While this might not always be achievable, avoid elevation gains as best possible. If you can’t avoid it, slowing down on uphills can help reduce the drain on the battery. If you can plan your route in advance, maybe there is an alternate route that does’t go up hills, but through them or around them. I live in the mountainous regions of Virginia, so I can’t avoid the mountains all the time. But there are some routes that follow a river or include a tunnel that help eke out a few miles on my battery by avoiding the constant uphill climbs. Attempt to take the path of least elevation gains if your goal is to stretch range.
3. Stick to warmer weather
Cold weather affects the chemical efficiency of EV batteries. The bike has to work harder to keep up with the power output, therefore consuming more juice. A good way to make the most of colder riding is to keep the battery warm as much as you can. Keep it indoors when you charge overnight, and start charging whenever you stop if possible. Unfortunately all LiveWire models are insanely efficient with air cooling, so riding is what gets the battery pack cold after charging. Riding in winter is a double whammy, as the air is more dense, which means the battery has to work harder to propel you down the road, and the chemistry exchange is slower, also requiring more power to sustain movement. Winter riding range will ALWAYS be worse, so just keep that in mind.
4. The lone sniper of Range - wind
The stealthy assassin of EV motorcyclists. Headwinds are the sneaky little bastards that can ruin your day very, very quickly. If you’re riding 55mph, and have a 10mph headwind - the bike will have to increase power output to keep up because of the resistance caused by the wind. While I’m riding, I keep an eye on the vegetation to the sides of the road - plants, trees, branches, etc. I’m watching out for signs of a headwind and adjust my speed accordingly. Obviously this is only when I know my current leg is at the edges of range capability, so it’s not something I always pay attention to. Another option is adding a windscreen, which can help counteract the effects of a headwind slightly. When using a screen, I usually see an increase of 5-10% in range. While this doesn’t defeat directly headwinds, it does give me a little more range overall to make up for anything lost. You can also look at how your body position and gear set up is adding more drag to the bike. Anything that doesn’t create a smooth flow of air over you and the bike is going to create resistance, which the bike has to work harder to overcome. Hug the bike with your legs, tuck in any loose clothing or straps, try to have luggage directly behind you (on the back seat or behind your legs). Little things like this help create better airflow around you and the bike.
5. Rolling resistance
Less surface area = less rolling resistance. Rolling resistance is always constant, so it doesn’t matter if you ride at 10mph, or 100mph - it still affects the bike the same. Always check your tire pressure, especially when temps have dropped. Most tires have a rated max PSI on the tires, and a rule of thumb is you can go +2 on that number if you’re riding purely on the interstate at higher speeds. I’ve seen quite the range bump in my bikes when raising the tire inflation just by 1-2 lbs. You technically will have less contact with the ground, so that’s why it’s only advised for interstate travel where there is less need for side wall traction (you’re not gonna touch your knee to the curve in a lean on the interstate).
6. Less weight is more range
We had a simple rule in the 101st Airborne Division when it comes to packing for long duration patrols - ounces turn into pounds, and pounds turn into pain. If you want your feet to hurt less at the end of the day, don’t carry needless shit. The less you carry (and the less you weight), the less the bike has to produce power. Travel as light as you can. While it’s enticing to pack your bike up for longer trips with all the creature comforts known to man - it’ll actually hurt you at the end of the day (or when you’re at the bottom of your battery). On my trips that last longer than a day - I only carry and additional moisture wicking shirt, undies and socks. If I’m off-roading, I wear gortex - and if on road, I lightweight set of weather proof gear. I won’t get into more specifics, as each trip is different and has a different load out - but go with as little possible to get you by. Every pound you shed, is a little more range for the end of the day.
7. Slow is smooth, smooth is… more range
Momentum is a powerful thing, and the slower to speed the better. Most objects require more power to accelerate quickly to speed than if accelerating slowly. To gauge whether you’re accelerating too quickly (for better range), you need to use your butt. If you can feel your butt sliding back into the seat, you’re likely accelerating too quickly. Acceleration should be smooth and gradual. This is about minimizing any excess energy required to get you at cruising speed. If you can, maintain momentum when you’re already at speed. The more you have to stop, then go, the less cumulative range you will have. The one exception to this rule is if you’re riding in the city only, where regen braking is best suited for stop and go traffic. In those longer stretches of roadway, when you’re cruising and have a yellow or red stop light coming up, start coasting as soon as you see it. The goal is to time your approach so that you can roll through when the light turns green, as opposed to stopping, then re-accelerating. While this won’t save you any range in one stop, it’s the cumulative effects of doing this throughout the whole day that will add up to more range.
Closing thoughts
Keep in mind that these are things I consider when making longer trips on my bikes, if I'm out riding around my local area for fun or running errands, I don’t pay any attention to any of this stuff, and neither should you. Enjoy your bike - that’s the most important thing to remember. I’ve found that the more that I just ride to have fun, the less anxiety I experience. If you find yourself commuting to work or maybe making a quick run to the grocery store, apply these techniques as practice. You can also run a familiar route in your normal manner, and then add some of these techniques to see if they work for you - some simple test runs. The important thing here is to develop these proven skills and keep them in your back pocket for when you really need them.
My custom windscreen gives me about 5-10% more range
