Electric vehicles are great cars that function all year round. However, if you live in the parts of the country that experience cold winters, you will notice your driving range reduces when the temperature goes south. This loss in the range is significant because it affects how long you can drive before charging the battery.
In this article, we consider six steps you can take to extend your electric vehicle’s range in winter. However, we will first examine why an EV’s range reduces during winter.
Why does an EV’s range reduce during winter?
Most modern EVs use lithium-ion batteries. Inside these batteries, charging and discharging result from the movement of electrons. However, when the weather is cold, the rate of movement of the electrons slows down, causing inefficiencies. This is why your range goes down as the temperate drops. For similar reasons, charging the car takes longer during the cold.
How to extend your electric vehicle’s range in winter
While you can’t do anything about the weather, there are steps you can take to alleviate the effect of the temperature on your battery.
Preconditioning
Heating the car during winter takes a lot of energy. However, you can limit how much of your battery goes to heating by running the heater while still plugging into the charger.
Some models allow you to precondition or warm up the battery before driving off, which will net you more driving range.
Park the car in a garage
The temperature in your garage will be slightly warmer than outside which will help your car hold battery charge for longer period and help it charge faster. If your garage is equipped with a heater, you will see a big improvement in battery holds and charging times.
Use localized heating
Instead of heating the whole car, turn on the seat heater if your vehicle has it. Also, warm your hands by heating the steering wheel. This will help you consume less battery and stay warm during your drive.
Adjust your driving habits
Instead of rapid acceleration that drains the battery, drive steadily. Also, use regenerative breaking as much as possible, or switch to low-power Eco mode. Avoid towing cargo behind your EV during winter.
Always carry a charging cable
If you have your charging cable with you, you can take advantage of any charging point you come across as you move about during the day. Some EVs have a frunk (front trunk) convenient for storing a charging cable.
Use winter tires
Winter tires are specially made to have more grip on the road when the temperature is low. Switch to a set of winter tires so that your electric car handles better the slippery conditions and assure the tire pressure is correct for more efficiency.
For all your electrical needs and garage EV charging station installation you can count on Westphal & Co. Contact us to receive a free quote for your project.
