How to Maintain Your EV and Charger in Winter

As the winter months creep in, EV owners are likely to face a unique set of challenges. Cold temperatures and adverse weather conditions can affect the performance of all cars, but they can be particularly tricky for EVs. Luckily, with the right planning and precautions you can navigate the chills of winter with confidence.

How does cold weather affect EVs?

Batteries don’t like the cold, so when faced with cooler than typical temperatures they can be less effective than normal. The ideal temperature for your battery is around 20°C and when the temperature dips below that, the electrochemical reactions in the battery will become sluggish and can’t deliver their usual amount of energy.

It varies between vehicles, but a freezing temperature can knock up to 30% off your EV’s range. A cold battery also won’t be able to take in energy as quickly as usual, so charging may be slightly slower during the winter months.

But there’s no need for EV drivers to panic. By thinking ahead and staying prepared, you can make sure you reach your destination safely.

How does cold weather affect charging your EV?

EV drivers will know not to let their charge drop below a certain level, but you should be extra careful in winter. Cold batteries have trouble taking in and giving out energy and your car may need to use some charge to heat it up before the charging process. As a general rule of thumb, you should never let your charge drop below 20% in colder weather.

Charging also takes longer in cold temperatures, which is most noticeable during fast or rapid charging. If your battery is cold, it won’t charge as fast as usual. Preconditioning your car can help with this, but be sure to plan for extra time to charge when heading out in winter.

Precondition your EV before your journeys

Warming up the battery before heading out on a trip is called preconditioning. When you plug in your car to charge, you can schedule it to heat up the battery with the power coming from the charger, then charge the battery and heat up the cabin.

Preconditioning is a common feature in most modern EVs and an incredibly useful one for those cold winter months. It helps take care of your car’s battery by giving it the best working conditions, meaning better performance, longer range and faster charging. It can also make your drives safer, as cold weather can affect the regenerative braking which can catch you off guard.

Keep your EV indoors (if possible) or consider a car cover

Keeping your EV indoors or under a car cover will help the battery be less affected than the cold, which can improve the performance of the EV. It will also ward off snow and ice from clinging to your car, making it easier to heat up your vehicle quickly and be on your way.

Make sure your tyres are inflated to the right pressure and check the tread

Tyres are a key part of any vehicle and they can contract and fall in pressure when the temperature drops, affecting an EV’s range. For every 10°C drop in temperature, pressure drops by 0.07-0.14 bars, so you should pay extra attention to your tyre pressure in winter.

Take things slow

The faster you drive, the shorter your EV’s range. To go as far as possible on a single charge, keep things nice and steady. Regenerative braking can also help you conserve your range, but remember to precondition your car to use it safely in winter. An EV’s range is also affected by the road conditions, so keep this in mind when driving uphill, against strong wind or through snow and slush.

Driving in winter can be worrying, but with the right planning and precautions you can make your journeys safe, secure and stress-free.