Surviving Winter with Your Electric Car
Electric cars might not perform as expected in the brutal chill of winter seasons. However, with a few simple tweaks, you can squeeze out the most out of your battery's remaining kilometers in the winter weeks.
Warm up Before Taking Off
Driving an electric car during winter is akin to getting ready for an outdoor excursion. If you warm up first, you'll fare better. Electric cars are packed with a parking heater, generally controllable via a smartphone app or onboard computer. While connected to the charging station, the car doesn't consume battery power when warmed up, maintaining cozy warmth before ride-off.
Remember, don't neglect to shake off the snow. It's not just about enhancing visibility, but also tackling weight and air resistance. More snow means more weight for the motor to bear, and ultimately, less ground covered.
Brainy Heating
To minimize energy consumption for comfort functions, electric car drivers should activate their thinking caps before the heating system. Warm-up only the utilized areas in the car, such as the front seats. Shorter warm-up periods and more focused heating areas, like the seats or steering wheels, significantly reduce energy consumption.
Long-Distance Strategies
Long-dwell periods between short trips cause interior and battery to chill. If you can, merge multiple short trips into a long one, minimizing the need to reheat throughout the day.
Clever Charging
Pre-heating your battery prior to charging can enhance charging capacity. If not possible, charge as soon as possible after a long journey, as the battery remains at a desirable temperature.
Winter Traffic Jams
Finally, electric cars are no sauna when trapped in winter traffic jams. ADAC reveals that an electric car needs around 1.5 to 20 kW of power to maintain an interior temperature of 20 degrees at -10 degrees outside, implying that drivers can wait and drink their comfort beverage within their vehicles with minimal battery depletion.
Additional Tips
Beyond these simple measures, you can also consider the following for maximizing your electric vehicle's efficiency during the winter months:
- Activate the Eco mode in your vehicle's HVAC system, which shuts off heating while the car is stationary and reactivates it when you engage in motion, thus reducing electrical draw.
- Regularly inspect and maintain tire pressure, optimizing range and preventing trip wear throughout the cold season.
- Plan your charging stops, ensuring that the battery is tempered before charging. This strategy can significantly reduce charging times and enhance efficiency.
- Switch to seat and steering wheel heaters instead of using the cabin heater, as these methods conserve power and provide ample warmth.
- Monitor battery temperature to maintain it between 10°C and 30°C, ensuring optimal charging performance.
By following these tips, you can enjoy the benefits of a long-lasting electric car battery throughout the winter season.
