How to get best performance out of EVs in cold weather

Keep it covered
If you can, then the best thing to do is to park your EV in a garage as this will offer it some protection from the cold and help it hold its charge for longer. 

 
Preheat your car
Most EVs have a preheat function. If yours does, then it’s best to preheat your car while it’s plugged in as heating your car on the move drains a lot of energy. The preheat function also preheats the car’s battery which means it will be at its most efficient temperature when you set off. 

Heat the individuals, not the entire car
When you’re driving in the winter, then try to warm up the passengers rather than having all the heaters on full blast. You can do this by strategically turning off any extra air vents or if you have heated sets or a heated steering wheel switch these on instead as they use far less energy. 

Keep the battery charged
Avoid running your battery down. We’d suggest trying to keep it above 20% charge and if you have a home charger, then we recommend regularly plugging in and topping it up overnight when energy prices are at their lowest.

Use eco mode
Like petrol and diesel vehicles that have eco mode, the eco mode in EVs is designed to boost your battery’s range by limiting the energy supply to certain features. For example, the power of your car’s acceleration or the power of your heater may be reduced, which helps preserve the battery. 

Take the usual winter prep steps
We all know that by keeping your tyres properly inflated and removing an unnecessary weight from an internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle, boosts fuel economy – well the same applies to EVs. Similarly if you avoid rapid acceleration and brake using regenerative braking, then you’ll preserve your battery life.

Plan your route and charging options
If you’re going on a long journey, then it’s always sensible to plan your route ahead of time and locate public charging sites that have ample charging stations – especially during the holiday period. And just as you would if you were driving an ICE vehicle, it’s worth making sure your mobile phone is fully charged and you have warm clothes and blankets in the car – just to be on the safe side. 

We hope we’ve put your mind at ease that EVs can function efficiently, even on the chilliest of days. If you’re considering an EV and would like to know more about your home charging options, then we’d love to help you down that road. Get in touch today, and let’s help you on your journey to a more sustainable future!