If you drive an electric vehicle during the winter, it’s critical to stay alert to road conditions. When the temperature drops, visibility and your ability to stop can decrease. Whether you own a truck or car, driving in cold weather can also limit the efficiency of your EV’s battery. Limited battery capacity and not knowing if you’ll find a charging station at regular intervals can leave you more vulnerable. Read on to get tips to increase EV performance and ensure your battery doesn’t die and leave you stranded on a frigid roadside.
Precondition your vehicle to improve driving range
Winter cold weather can reduce the range your EV can travel. The batteries in these vehicles are most efficient between 60 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Preconditioning your car while it’s plugged in is an excellent way to combat this challenge. If you’re using an app, you can begin warming up your battery and your automobile’s interior temperature by scheduling when preconditioning should start. Doing so can get your EV to the right temperature before you begin driving. Your battery won’t have to work as hard, giving you a greater range to drive.
Watch your speed
Driving fast during the winter can cause problems quickly if you’re on a slippery road and need to stop before hitting another vehicle. Going fast also forces your battery to produce more energy, reducing the travel range. When possible, keeping your speed below 65 mph is best.
Use winter tyres to help grip the road
While using all-season tyres can be convenient, driving when ice and snow are on the ground can be handled better using winter tyres. If you live where winter leaves the roadways slick, adding winter tyres to your EV is an intelligent choice. Doing so provides the best grip possible, which might come in handy when encountering black ice.
Keep your battery charged
Consistency is essential when charging the battery of your EV. If you avoid running it extremely low, it should maximize the efficiency of your battery. Keeping it charged between 20 to 80 percent is a good goal, which should also increase its longevity.
Utilize eco-driving mode during the winter
When ice and snow cause slippery road surfaces, it can be helpful to switch to eco-driving mode. This action changes the driving style by consuming less energy. In eco-driving mode, you’ll have smoother, controlled braking and acceleration. Reducing hard accelerations and braking makes it safer and easier to grip the road and stop your vehicle, which can be critical in hazardous winter conditions.
Unfortunately, these safe driving tactics weren’t followed in the 2007 movie playing on DIRECTV STREAM – Wind Chill. In this horror thriller, reckless driving during winter conditions leaves two occupants of a wrecked car stranded on a deserted stretch of road. While it isn’t likely you’ll experience this situation, it can still be scary, which is why you should do all you can to ensure your EV doesn’t run out of power.
Bundle up and use a heated seat
Increasing the battery’s efficiency in your EV can also be done by dressing warmer. When you bundle up and wear extra layers of clothing, you won’t need to turn up the heat inside your vehicle. This action helps save battery life, extending your driving range. You may also want to use a heated seat and steering wheel to keep you warm and comfortable.
Know how to locate fast chargers
When your electric vehicle’s battery is cold, it has a greater resistance to charging. Making sure you have access to a 240v level 2 fast charger is ideal. When you use this type of charger at home, work or when travelling, it should increase efficiency.
Conclusion
These tips should help increase the battery’s efficiency in your EV in cold weather. You’ll be able to drive a longer distance between charges, giving you peace of mind.
Photograph courtesy of Audi UK
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