Most of us love to have something on in the car while we’re driving. Road-trip playlists, favorite podcasts for our commute to the office, power ballads that sound best when sung alone in a car—music sets the scene and passes the time. We know that listening to music too loudly can prove fatal, but did you know that the music you listen to may also be ruining your EV’s driving range?
A recent scientific study shows that your tunes and your EV range could be more closely tied than you think. Here’s how.
The affects of music have been well-documented | Bruce Mars via Unsplash
Science says that your music affects your driving habits
Kia UK partnered with a company that specializes in acoustics, noise, psychoacoustics and sounds science to produce a study about music and driving—specifically related to EV range. The study was overseen by Dr. Duncan Williams, a leading authority in the matter. Dr. Williams founded WaveTrace, a psychoacoustic consultancy specializing in biometric tracking of human responses to sound and music stimuli.
The study found that real-world EV range can be affected by the music that’s playing in the cabin because of how music affects driving habits.
It makes sense. If you think about when people turn down the radio when watching for a highway exit or address, even subconsciously, it’s because we know that music can be distracting.
“What we found from only two days of testing was that music really can have a dramatic influence on the real-world driving range of an electric vehicle.”
Dr. Duncan Williams
Driving with music | Why Kei via Unsplash
Details of the EV range study
Participants in the study were drivers with no experience driving an EV. Researchers chose participants without EV experience so they would have no knowledge of how to extend range or work the system. They set up participants with a wearable biometric measuring device that tracked changes in skin temperature, changes in sweat, and heart rate.
The drivers piloted a Kia EV6 GT-Line S, an all-electric crossover with a range of up to 328 miles—a good range distance for an EV like this.
Participants drove along a specific 18-mile route listening to a fixed playlist that was created by the researchers. Factors like volume were accounted for. Researchers monitored biometric readings during the drive to see how the drivers’ bodies reacted differently to different songs.
The results were conclusive.
Drivers who listened to classical music could drive farther
The study showed that classical music—researchers used an unnamed section of Beethoven’s ‘Symphony No. 9’—made participants drive up to four times more efficiently than select other tracks.
Researchers claim that classic music “creates a calm, focused and balanced environment for the driver”, which causes a calmer, more focused driving style. This calm style “preserved battery power and real-world driving range,” and could very well increase the total EV range of a vehicle.
Classical music may also help to cut down on other bad driving habits, too. Try it for yourself. Listen to this short clip of Beethoven’s 9th Symphony and feel how you react.
Drivers who listened to pop limited their EV range
On the flipside, the study found that pop music—like The Weeknd’s ‘Blinding Lights’—tended to “provoke intense emotion” and cause “more spirited and energetic driving styles.”
Other popular songs from Kanye West and Adele were also shown to create these excitable driving styles, which led to behaviors which can limit EV range.
“In short: if you want to go further, listen to the likes of Beethoven and other relaxing classical music; if you’re not worried about range dropping a little more quickly, by all means put on some more high tempo tracks.”
Dr. Duncan Williams
Ready for the second part of the experiment? Bop along to “Blinding Lights” and try not to get a bit of a lead foot.
Other ways to extend your EV’s driving range
MYEV offers up 10 simple ways to get the most out of your mileage and extend EV range:
- Smooth and steady—don’t punch the accelerator
- Drive under 60 mph when possible and safe to do so
- Leverage your regenerative braking system
- Use the heat on low settings in the winter
- Use the A/C on low settings in the summer
- Make sure you properly inflate your tires
- Keep your car free of excess weight from junk
- Remove roof racks or cargo carriers if you’re not using them
- Plan out your route to maximize efficiency
- Try to drive right after your vehicle hits full charge—don’t leave it plugged in
What effect do podcasts have on EV range and driving habits? We’ll need to wait for the next study to come out.
Kia EV6, a crossover with an EV range of 328 miles | Clive Brunskill/Getty Images for Kia
Keyword: Can the Music You Listen to Hurt Your EV’s Range?