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Electric Car vs. Cold Climate

by Ben Adley - 02 Dec 2021, Thursday 544 Views Like (0)
Electric Car vs. Cold Climate

As the temperature is dropping and you're an electric car owner, you must have asked yourself about how cold weather will affect your electric vehicle and its performance. 

Also, another concern you must have is how to properly maintain your EV in the winter season.

This article will help you learn how cold will affect your EV and how to maintain it. Also, it will show you the problems that need an expert to come in.


What Appears When Electric Cars Get Cold? 

EV and gas-powered cars slightly face the same issues, like frozen fluid, dead batteries, and black ice slides.

This is not a big problem at all. However, the matter with EVs in the winter season is that their driving range decreases by up to 40%. Subsequently, it increases your car’s charging times.


Why Cold Weather affects your EV Batteries? 

We know that coldness slows the reaction of physics and chemicals elements. That makes the batteries work slow as well. Thus, the charging time rises and temporarily reduces the range to support the heating system. 

Plus, the EV battery needs to be above freezing temperature before charging. That will stop high voltage, and quick charging affects your car battery. Because most EVs come with a BMS (battery management system), this will guard your battery health.

So, now you know how to maintain your EV to get prepared. Because winter is here! 


Keep An Eye On Your Speed

Driving at higher speeds will force the EV battery to work harder, which leads to sucking more range from your driving capacity. 

Additionally, driving in snowy and rainy or foggy weather conditions risks your capability to control your car if any obstacle comes up.

It's why you need to make sure to drive at a regulated speed to save battery range and to ensure your safety. 


Preconditioning You EV 

It's advised to precondition your EV to avoid losing range. And the best practice is to start warming your car battery before you start driving. Also, it will help your car to warm up the interior so driving can be bearable in cold weather. 

Plus, electric cars have applications that launch preconditioning remotely, which will make the car know when to start heating itself.

If you are having trouble using this application, it's better to ask for expert help utilizing it. And if your EV has any issues, ask for roadside assistance services and vehicle recovery professionals. 


Use Winter Tires

Winter tires are designed to handle slippery roads and provide the car with a steady grip on snowy roads. It's essential to use winter tires if you're living in cold areas. Outfitting your car with these tires boost safety and performance.


Make Sure Your EV Comes With Heat Pump

When buying an EV, make sure it has a heat pump, not the regular air conditioning system. The reason behind that is heat pumps have lesser power usage than the A/C system. 


Moreover, the heat pump consumes heat from the atmosphere, not from the EV battery. And compress it with a refrigerating circuit, this Level up the cabin heat, allowing warm air to blown into the car. Without consuming electricity and not reducing the driving range, heat pumps are the best system to warm up your EV. 

Bundle Up

There are many ways which can help you reduce driving range. Like, wearing warmer clothes while driving, also bring your coffee, tea to help you keep warm. Rather than using the heater. With all of this, you can save more battery power.


Lastly, Keep Your Battery Warm 

The most important part of the EV is the batteries. By keeping the battery warm, it will bring up the performance and better driving range. 

Furthermore, in winter, the battery works harder to get warm that leads batteries to drain quickly. That's why in the morning you have less range to drive because the battery was warming itself all night.

To avoid this conflict, You need to charge the EV as much as you can with a minimum driving range of 20% all the time. Finally, try to park your EV under the Sun whenever it is passable. And help the battery to stay warm by cleaning ice and snow off. 


When It's Necessary To Tow An Electric Car? 

Electric cars (EVs) require towing services if you have a dead battery, flat tire, or the car is out of charge. To get the best roadside assistance service for towing your EV, be sure it's towed with a flatbed truck to ensure no damage happens. 


Dragging your car on the road could engage the motor, and all kinds of harm can come to it. 


To Sum Up

It's essential to maintain your EV periodically, and in the winter, it's vital. You need to make sure everything is running before leaving. 

And if your electric car is not running, you need to get the experts to help with vehicle recovery services or emergency towing services.