There are many benefits of buying an electric vehicle (EV), but winter can be rough on your car by causing the battery to struggle which significantly impacts an EV’s range. Fortunately, the new models can still perform optimally even when the temperature is below freezing point. Our experts at Rydell Cadillac of Grand Forks understand the significance of ensuring safety and comfort while driving in winter. This guide explains how cold weather impacts EVs and offers tips for caring for your vehicle during these months.
What Is the Impact of Cold Weather on Your EV?
A lithium-ion battery powers your EV’s batteries, reaching peak performance levels between the temperatures of 60 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. The battery produces less current when the temperature falls below 40 degrees Fahrenheit, due to slow chemical reactions when generating electrons for the electric current. Cars with internal combustion engines have a thermal system to warm the battery, but EVs use energy from the battery to generate heat. The result is less power to get the car moving.
According to the American Automobile Association (AAA), the average range of an EV falls by up to 12% during cold weather when there is no heater in the car. It drops by about 41% when you turn on the cabin heaters. EVs still maintain safe and steady handling, even when traversing cold and slippery roads in winter. Furthermore, you can enhance performance by taking proper care of your car on the lot and when driving.
How To Care for Your EV in the Winter
By taking the necessary measures, your electric vehicle can run as usual year-round. For the best performance under the extreme winter of Grand Forks, North Dakota, you can implement the tips below:
Protect Your EV From the Winter Cold
Park your EV inside a garage to prevent frost buildup on your windshield and frozen doors.
If you cannot access a garage, you can minimize the damage of the cold weather by:
- Placing a tarp over the EV to protect the doors, rearview mirrors, and windshields.
- Using cardboard pieces as tarps to cover the front and back windshields.
- Spraying silicone to the door joints to prevent freezing.
- Parking your EV in a place with direct sunlight.
Refrain from pouring hot water over the windshield as this can weaken the glass, causing it to fracture and break easily.
Use the Cabin’s Heat Moderately
Avoid blasting the AC to the maximum for the first few minutes after entering your car, as is typical for some people during winter. Instead, precondition to maintain the desired temperature in your vehicle. Some new EV models let you program this feature remotely using an app to ensure the heat is sufficient before departure.
Preconditioning also prevents a cold start and energy loss by keeping the entire vehicle’s temperature at the required range. When you precondition while your EV is still charging, the energy comes from your power grid, but not the battery. Therefore, you get to drive off in a warm car with a full battery. Heated steering wheels and seats also require less battery power than cabin heaters, so you use them to keep warm while driving.
Get Winter Tires
Get a set of winter tires for your EV to improve handling and increase efficiency. Winter tires are safer because they have many grooves, deeper treads, and more supple rubber, to enhance the car’s grip, traction, and braking system.
Some tips for choosing the right winter tires include:
- Shopping in advance to access coupons and discounts.
- Installing the tires early, especially if your area has unpredictable snowfall.
- Considering your car’s shape and weight.
- Buying all the tires for your vehicle.
- Considering your driving style.
Check your tire pressure every day during winter because it falls together with the surrounding temperature, reducing your car’s range and increasing its rolling resistance. Remove the winter tires and replace them with regular tires when the snow starts melting.
Drive in a Conservative Style
Regardless of the weather conditions, your driving style dramatically impacts the range of your EV. For example, the battery drains faster when you drive at high speeds or when you excessively accelerate and brake. Allow the regenerative braking system in the EV to perform optimally by anticipating when you need to slow down or stop. You require less power when accelerating gently, and you can maintain a steady speed through cruise control when getting on and off the highways in Grand Forks, North Dakota. Use gravity to make the car roll when going downhill.
Conservative driving also ensures the safety of you and your passengers on the slippery, winter roads.
Activate the ECO Mode
All EVs have an ECO mode that increases mileage and minimizes power consumption, by reducing the energy supply to other features, like the drive motor and cabin heaters. Although the ECO mode varies in different models, it enhances safety during winter. In this mode, EVs accelerate slower due to the minimal power supply to the motor, reducing the occurrences of wheel spins on snow or ice-covered roads.
Use Fast Chargers
Batteries are more resistant to charging after exposure to low temperatures. A fast charger delivering 200V gives enough mileage because it has up to 15 times the capacity of small onboard chargers. In many cases, you can get as much as 80% of battery power in less than half an hour. Since some units cost tens of thousands of dollars and are bulky, fast chargers are mainly found in public charging stations. It would help mapping areas around Grand Forks, North Dakota, or along your route when planning an out-of-state winter road trip.
Contact Rydell Cadillac of Grand Forks to Learn More
Enhance your EV’s performance during winter by taking proactive steps to avoid frozen doors, snow-covered windshields, and a dying battery. Our experts at Rydell Cadillac of Grand Forks can advise you further on caring for your car, depending on the model. Residents of Grand Forks and other nearby areas can visit our dealership at South Washington Street, Grand Forks, for regular EV maintenance, repairs, and multi-point inspections. Contact us today to learn more about caring for your EV.
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