Electric Cars in Winter: How to Keep Your EV Running Efficiently

If you own an electric vehicle or are considering purchasing one, this blog is a great resource. As we near the winter season, it’s important to understand how cold weather affects your EV and what you can do to maintain its efficiency.

This blog will provide actionable tips for maintaining electric vehicles in cold weather, including how to improve the range, winter care, and maintenance tips.

Top Five Tips for Maintaining Your Electric Vehicle in the Winter

#1 – Park In a Garage or Underground Parking

If you leave your car parked for an extended period, it's a good idea to cover it to protect it from the cold and prevent snow or ice from building up on the windows. If you have a garage, keeping your car and battery warm is better than parking it inside. If you don’t have access to warm storage, using a tarp or frost cover is even helpful.

#2- Drive Efficiently

Your EV battery may become less efficient in cold weather. To maximize your battery's performance, avoid rapid acceleration and braking. Instead, maintaining a steady speed and allowing plenty of time to slow down gently will help optimize each charge.

#3 - Preheat Your Car and Use Battery-Efficient Heating

Most EVs have a preheat function. This makes your journey more comfortable and uses less battery power than heating while driving. You can usually activate the preheat function using your EV app.

By using the preheat function, you're warming the interior of the car and preheating the battery. This ensures the battery is at its most efficient temperature as soon as you start driving.

If your car has heated seats and a heated steering wheel, using these instead of turning up the heating can be a more efficient way to stay warm. It helps with efficiency and preserves energy for a better range.

#4 - Use Regenerative Braking

EVs often come with regenerative braking, which allows the car to capture the kinetic energy produced during braking and use it to recharge the battery. This feature is particularly beneficial during winter as it replenishes the battery while driving, enhancing the vehicle's range.

To maximize the benefits of regenerative braking, it's best to decelerate smoothly instead of braking abruptly. This approach reduces the reliance on the brakes, lowering the risk of skidding.

#5 - Keep your EV charged

To maintain your battery in good condition, it's always best to avoid fully depleting it. This is especially important during the winter, mainly if you anticipate not using your car for an extended period. Whenever feasible, aim to keep the battery's charge above 20%.

How to Increase Your EV’s Range in the Winter

In freezing conditions, electric vehicles can lose 20-30% of their range, whereas gas vehicles experience a 10-20% decrease. Here are some tips and solutions for preparing your electric vehicle for winter to minimize the impact on range: 

• Preconditioning: Preconditioning in electric vehicles warms the cabin while plugged in, conserving battery energy and ensuring a warmer cabin and frost-free windshield at the start of your drive. 
• Manage Cabin Heating: Optimize cabin heating to save energy. Use seat and steering wheel heaters, set a comfortable temperature, and use eco mode to preserve range.
• Plan Efficient Routes: As an EV driver, you are used to planning your routes. However, it’s even more critical in the winter. Plan your trips to minimize energy consumption and maximize range. Use navigation apps or EV-specific route planners to identify charging stations along your route and optimize your driving speed to conserve energy. Avoid unnecessary idling and aggressive driving to preserve battery life.
• Maintain Tire Pressure: Check your tire pressure regularly and ensure it meets your manufacturer’s recommendations. Properly inflated tires can reduce rolling resistance and improve efficiency, maximizing your EV’s range in cold weather.
• Charge Smartly and Remember Battery Care: Charge your electric vehicle whenever possible in cold weather. Consider installing a home charging station. Park your EV in a garage or use a battery blanket to maintain optimal battery temperature. Avoid exposing the vehicle to extreme temperature fluctuations.

Book Your Winter Service with Go Auto Today!

Whether you operate an electric or gas-powered vehicle, now is the perfect time to have it checked up for the winter months! Book your service today at Go Auto. No matter what you need, our dealerships can take care of you. Book a service today here.

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