The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
How to keep your EV performing at its best in winter
Have you made the switch to an EV but not sure how your battery will perform in cold weather? While EVS are improving and the latest models aren’t severely affected by a drop in temperature, the cold can still slow the movement of lithium ions in the battery.
This means it won’t work as efficiently as normal, and could limit the range of your electric car.
To help keep your car running efficiently over winter, finance firm Carfinance247 have produced a guide to help make the most of your EV.
MINDFUL MOTORING
Driving mindfully can help you conserve power and improve your electric car’s range in cold weather. Travel at a steady speed and try to avoid sudden acceleration or braking. You can also save energy by turning off the radio and not using the heater.
WINTER TYRES
Investing in winter tyres can help you stay safe when the weather turns.
The battery location can give electric cars a low centre of gravity, which improves traction in the snow, but they can also be heavier than petrol or diesel cars, making them harder to control in icy conditions.
KEEP COVERED
Storing your car in a garage or covered parking space overnight can help to keep the battery warm. Don’t have a garage? Keeping it under a cover can make a difference, too.
They’re an excellent way to protect your car from rain, frost, tree sap, dirt and bird dropping when bricks and mortar – or a car port – aren’t an option.
PREHEAT THE CAR
Many electric vehicles come equipped with a preconditioning feature that warms up the car while it’s charging.
If the car is still plugged in while you warm it up, battery drain won’t be an issue.
KEEP REGENERATIVE BRAKING ON
Regenerative braking is the system whereby the electric motor acts as its own generator whenever you slow down or brake.
The energy generated is then sent back to the battery as a top-up. Keeping this function on in cold weather can help your battery last longer.
OVERNIGHT CHARGING
You should expect charging to take longer in cold weather, with overnight charging taking two or three extra hours to complete.
Keep this in mind, too, when travelling as it’ll take longer to charge on the go.
BASIC MAINTENANCE
Petrol, diesel or electric, winter car maintenance advice still applies, so keep anti-freeze topped up – and the EV battery, too. If it snows or you have an icy windscreen, dislodge and de-ice as usual.
USE ECO-MODE
Eco-mode can preserve energy, reducing power consumption and boosting mileage by limiting the amount of energy supplied to the driving motor or cabin heaters.
CHARGING IN RAIN OR SNOW
There’s no need to worry about charging your EV in bad weather. EVS and charging stations are built to withstand rain, and have protective layers and shields to prevent water getting into the system.
■ Correction: In last week’s article, “Be a bright spark and brush up on charging your EV”, we stated that a ban on petrol and diesel vehicles comes into place by 2030. The item should have stated that the ban is on new petrol and diesel vehicles only. Thank you to the reader who pointed out the omission.