Electric Cars in Winter

Electric cars in the winter season and some top tips for your EV. Winter is here, snow covered driveways and if you don’t store your EV in a garage, then winter means a snow covered car. Or maybe winter isn’t seasonal for you, and it’s freezing temperatures all year round.

All in all, it’s completely normal for electric cars to consume more energy in colder temperatures. It’s largely due to the fact extra energy needs to be spent, to keep both the car battery and cabin warm. Electric cars simply need some extra protection in winter months.

On average, EV drivers can see a 20-30% lower range during winter. There are two main reasons for this. The first is lower battery performance and the second is increased energy consumption. The good news is that any cold related changes to your EV are only temporary.

However there are a few things you can do to get the most out of your car in freezing temperatures.

Electric Cars Range in Winter

Electric vehicle charging in winter. — Image credits: Audi

The ideal temperature for an EV’s lithium-ion battery is between 15 and 35 degrees celsius. An Idaho National Laboratory study showed that at 32 degrees Fahrenheit, an electric car battery took 36% less energy than when the battery was charged for the same amount of time at 77 degrees Fahrenheit. The result of this study basically shows the lower the temperature, the slower the charge.

Slower charger and more energy consumption in the cold. So what can you do to tackle the winter? First things first. In winter it’s best to store your electric vehicle inside a home garage to minimise the cold exposure to your electric car and home charging station.

Secondly, to get the most out of your charge, ensure to conserve your car’s battery energy by; driving at a steady speed, avoid suddenly accelerating and braking your EV. Lastly you can minimise the use of features such as radio and heaters on long journeys.

Electric vehicle charging port in winter snow. — Image credits: GTÜ

If you’re a new EV driver and you permanently live in a colder climate. Recurrent has a great survey across different EV brands and their range loss during winter months. You can check out the specific brands and how their performance differs in freezing months.

Charging Electric Cars in Winter

Charging points can be affected in extreme cold, so it’s definitely worth checking available charging points on an app such as Plugshare or Chargepoint. If you charge your EV from home you need to take into consideration charging times will be slightly longer. For example, rapid charging could take up to 45 minutes rather than the usual 30.

If you are already a EV charger owner, hopefully you have purchased a charger that withstands harsh weather such as snow, rain and wind. If you are looking to purchase one. It’s essential that your EV charger or charging station is made to withstand cold temperatures. Charger features such as fast charging, power boost (to avoid being charged higher electricity rates while charging at home), smart charging (to schedule charges ahead of time, when the rates of electricity or cheaper) can be useful to have in colder months.

EVs in Winter Top tips:

When it comes down to charging your electric vehicle in winter, there are some things you can do to ensure longevity of your car’s battery life.

Don’t let your car battery go below 20%.

When charging in a harsh cold environment, your car will need a reserve of power to warm up and get ready to charge. You don’t want your power reserve to go below 20%.

Car dashboard, speedometer close up view.

Allow more time for your charge.

In colder conditions, your EV may take longer to charge. The car’s software can reduce it’s charging power to not over stress the battery. An empty EV charge is not healthy for battery. Add more time for your charge.

Electric car charging in at home in garage

Keep your electric car parked indoors when possible.

In cold months EV’s can lose range even when they’re not in use, the cold temperatures will affect how much power is needed to power up your EV. Just the same as with a gas powered car, it’s best to keep the car parked inside a garage.

If you can’t store your EV in a home garage, put a cover over your electric car to keep it away from the harsh winter months.

Use eco mode.

Most EVs have eco mode to allow the EV to focus energy on core functions instead of features such as heaters, speakers, and gadgets.

The vehicle’s system focuses on maximum efficiency, while the regenerative braking system stores kinetic energy in the battery to allow you to travel further.

Electric car charging in snow. Orange electric charging cable.

Plan your charges.

Most EV owners will have worked out a routine charge that works.

Ensure to plan ahead when you will charge your electric vehicle, especially if you are going on a longer road trip.

Top up your EV more than you usually would and maintain a higher charge. This will account for any extra loss, from warming the cabin or battery.

Choose the right charging station.

For colder climates, the ideal charging station should be made from durable material that resists the cold, to ensure it doesn’t rust in the snow, rain, or ice. Whether you haver a home garage or not.

A level 2 charging station is an ideal solution, since it’s the faster option for charging.

Precondition your EV.

Most electric cars have preconditioning. Drivers can use this feature to both warm, and cool the electric car cabin for comfort. Drivers can also use this feature to warm the battery into a more efficient operating temperature.

It’s also important that your car battery is warm before you charge it. If your EV doesn’t have the preconditioning feature, you can ensure you charge your car after driving, when the battery is still warm from functioning.

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