Boosting EV Efficiency with Lightfoot Tech

author: FutureCar Staff    

Lightfoot, a company specializing in telematics, has found that the efficiency of electric vehicles (EV) used as company cars has improved by 35% in the past year. This improvement can be attributed to advancements in technology and coaching provided by Lightfoot.

The analysis was conducted on hundreds of cars in Lightfoot's system, which measures real-time consumption and mileage using their technology. The data revealed that average efficiency has increased from 2.75 miles per kWh in July 2022 to 3.72 miles per kWh in June 2023.

Managing director Paul Hollick expressed his enthusiasm for the progress made in the adoption of EVs in the fleet sector. He stated, "What our data clearly shows is that businesses and their drivers are combining our system with the new EV technology available and hugely improving efficiency and range."

An example provided by Lightfoot demonstrates the significant impact of improved efficiency. In 2022, a driver operating a car with a 60 kWh battery at 2.75 miles per kWh could expect a real-world range of 165 miles. However, by mid-2023, a car with a similar battery size would have a range of 223 miles, an increase of nearly 60 miles per charge.

All drivers in the study had the Lightfoot driver management system installed, which provides feedback on driving style to improve efficiency and range. Hollick emphasized that the Lightfoot system has been proven to reduce fuel consumption in traditional vehicles and is now showing a transformational effect on EVs.

The increase in efficiency not only impacts range but also the cost of running an EV. Assuming a 60 kWh battery car charged at 30p per kWh in 2022, it would cost 11p per mile to run. In 2023, the cost per mile would decrease to 8p, resulting in significant savings over 20,000 miles.

Lightfoot's telematics data also highlighted the impact of external factors on EV efficiency. During a heatwave in July and August 2022, efficiency dropped from 3.0 miles per kWh to 2.4 due to increased air-conditioning usage. This demonstrated that air conditioning has a greater impact on EV range than colder weather during winter months.

Hollick emphasized the importance of considering these external factors in efficiency and cost predictions. He concluded, "Lightfoot's driver coaching and telematics make EVs cheaper to run and go further."

FutureCar Staff