Improve Your Driving Efficiency vs. Others

Driving at a high efficiency rating is good for both you and your car.

Today we’re checking out how to track your driving “efficiency vs. others” to understand how your driving patterns compare to the driving patterns of others in your area.

Note: this feature is fully available for TezLab Pro subscribers.

Read on to learn five ways you can improve your efficiency score.

Why efficiency matters

The top three reasons why a high efficiency score is important:

💰 It costs less money: charging costs can add up quickly, even if you’re charging at home
⏰ You save time: greater efficiency means less time at the EV charger, especially for longer trips or if you can’t charge at home
🍀 It’s good for the environment: even if you’re not guzzling gas at the pump, emissions from energy production add up during a charge

Working toward a higher efficiency also typically aligns with taking care of your car. Keep an eye on your efficiency over time to see if you can beat your high score.

Track efficiency vs. others

While trying to beat your own efficiency score can be motivating, sometimes a comparative benchmark is a useful reality check.

The “efficiency vs. others” feature in TezLab helps Tesla owners understand how usage of their car compares to other drivers in the area.

Access this data in the Driving Overview section at the bottom of the TezLab home screen.

There you can check your efficiency score, distance, and speed compared to other drivers in your area.

Tips to improve your driving efficiency score

If you want to improve your efficiency score, try out these suggestions:

1. Drive smoothly

“Stop and start” driving can quickly deplete your battery, reducing both range and your efficiency score. Frequent acceleration and deceleration may be unavoidable in heavy traffic, but try to keep your driving smooth and steady when possible.

2. Stay at or below the speed limit

Driving fast tends to put stress on your electric vehicle. Instead of pushing your car to its limit, try to slow it down and stay below the speed limit whenever you can.

3. Keep it cool (but not too cold)

A comfortable 70º F / 21º C is optimal for your car’s performance. If it’s especially cold or hot out, then try keeping your car in a garage when not in use. If a garage isn’t an option, consider covering your car with a tarp, or putting a sun shield up in the window for heat protection.

4. Change your tires

Jonathan R., a TezLab user in Brooklyn, NY, was able to improve his efficiency by 10% after replacing his tires. Old tires that have been worn down by extreme temperatures, rough roads, and under-inflation have a difficult time gaining traction to accelerate.

5. Pack light

A heavy load adds an extra challenge for your car to accelerate properly. We encourage ski trips, but when it’s possible pack on the lighter side, your car will thank you for doing so.

While other factors such as general battery degradation are expected over time, driving with efficiency in mind can help you to improve your short-term score while avoiding long-term damages.

Happy driving

To improve your at-home charging efficiency, check out Optimize Your Tesla Charging Efficiency at Home.

Download TezLab, and subscribe to TezLab Pro for full access to Pro features, including your efficiency compared to others.

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