The Impact Of Cold Weather On An Electric Vehicle

Winter weather can be hard on any car, both fossil fuel and electric. Aside from cold and ice, there’s grit on the roads dirtying and damaging paintwork, they’re slower to start and they can take longer to warm up. Electric vehicles (EVs) are growing in popularity and are slowly reducing the UK’s reliance on petrol and diesel cars but they come with their own particular set of challenges during the colder months.

Here we explore the key factors you need to think about and the electric vehicle maintenance you need to consider.

The Negative Impact On EV Batteries

Electric vehicles rely on lithium-ion batteries which are sensitive to temperature changes. Cold weather slows down the chemical reactions which allow them to store and release energy which makes them less efficient when the temperature drops. In extreme conditions, or when they’re exposed to very cold temperatures for an extended period of time this can even cause permanent damage, leading to diminished long-term performance.

How to Protect Your Battery:

• Park your EV in a garage, use a car cover or keep it in a protected/insulated area to reduce exposure to cold
• Use the battery pre-conditioning feature if your car has one to warm it up before driving anywhere – this ensures optimal efficiency
• Avoid letting the battery level drop too low in winter. Keep it well charged as cold temperatures make recharging less effective

Reduced Range In Colder Weather

You need to plan your long-distance journeys with strategic charging spots in mind because your EV’s range is reduced in winter. The battery operates less efficiently, storing less energy while you simultaneously require more energy for heating the interior, the seats and steering wheel. The cold temperature also increases the rolling resistance of your tyres, so your car requires more energy to move. Some Electric vehicles in winter experience a range reduction of between 20-30% when it’s freezing which can make long-distance travel more challenging.

How to Safeguard Your Range:

• Plan your routes carefully to make sure you have access to charging points
• Use heated seats instead of the cabin heater as these require less energy
• Avoid rapid acceleration and harsh braking to conserve energy

Slower Charging Times

Cold weather won’t just affect your range, it will impact how fast your battery charges, too. The lower temperatures slow down the chemical reactions inside your battery and their ability to hold energy. You may notice that both at home and at public charging stations, it takes longer to charge your battery.

How to Mitigate This:

• Wherever possible, charge in warmer areas, such as in a heated garage or enclosed space
• Use rapid chargers strategically – while they can be slower in winter, they’re still much faster than AC charging at home
• Preheat your EV while it’s still plugged in. Your battery heats up using grid power rather than depleting your battery

Tyres and Their Traction in Snow and Ice

Like all vehicles, EV handling is affected by snow, ice and wet conditions. However, EV batteries are heavy, which often makes EV cars overall heavier than their petrol and diesel counterparts, and this can further impact their handling in cold conditions. Standard tyres may struggle to grip the road.

To Maintain Traction:

• Switch out standard tyres for electric vehicle winter tyres, which are better able to handle snow and ice
• Check the tyre pressures regularly – cold temperatures can cause the pressure to drop, which will affect the traction
• Use regenerative braking carefully. While it will help slow your vehicle down, excessive use may cause you to skid

Every vehicle owner views the winter months with a little trepidation because the cold, snow, and ice simply make driving that little bit harder. EV vehicle owners have several challenges unique to their vehicles, but with proper preparation and precautions, it’s easy to manage these issues and enjoy driving in colder weather.

Want to know more about EvolveArc’s care of electric vehicles? Get in contact with the team at EvolveArc today!