Electric cars are known for losing efficiency in the winter!
Electric cars are more efficient than gas cars. However, EVs are notorious for getting hit with substantial range losses in cold weather. These efficiency problems generate some concern with prospective owners in northern climates. But, there are ways to nullify some cold weather losses and maintain a respectable energy consumption figure.
EV's are known for losing efficiency in the winter. However, there are many ways to recuperate these losses, here's how:
- Precondition the battery: During winters, preconditioning your battery prior to plugging in your EV can mean much faster DC fast charging times. Since Li-ion batteries like to be relatively warm to charge fast, preconditioning the battery pack before charging the car gets your EV's battery ready for a speedy charging session. Some EVs, Tesla vehicles, have this feature built into the UI, so the battery will automatically warm up before arriving at the station. This feature isn't available in every EV, but if yours has it, it'll mean that your car can reach its maximum charge rate much faster.
- Park your electric car inside: When you leave your electric car parked outside in the cold, especially unplugged, it does no good if you want to maximize range. Doing this is commonly referred to as "cold-soaking,". Besides taking a considerable efficiency loss when driving, DC charge rates will be reduced, and power could be limited too. If you can't park your car inside, try to leave your EV plugged-in so you can at least warm the car with shore power before driving.
- Heat-up the cabin while the car is plugged-in: The best way to maximize your charge is to use shore power to heat your ride directly. Instead of waiting until driving to begin heating the cabin, doing so while charging is the best way to conserve your battery's energy. The best time to do this is around 15 minutes before you leave. Some EVs allow you to set scheduled departure times, allowing the car to activate the cabin heater automatically. Plus, once the cabin is sufficiently warmed, you can tick down the fan speed while driving to avoid using excess energy.
- Check your tires: With electric cars (and plug-in hybrids, for that matter), keeping your car's tires within manufacturer specs is ideal for getting the best range. Since electric powertrains are so efficient, unnecessary friction from improperly inflated tires will eat into your car's range. Tesla says that a 6-degree Celsius (10-degree Fahrenheit) drop results in a loss of 1 PSI. If the weather gets cold, checking your pressure is vital to maintain the intended specifications.
- Drive proactively: In the winter, the cold temperatures will reduce your EV's overall efficiency. It's essential to drive nicely to account for the losses. Instead of driving at 75 mph on the freeway, it might help to reduce your speed to 70 mph. Cold weather also might adversely affect your vehicle's regen abilities, so anticipating stops is equally essential. Overall, if you plan on going on a winter road trip, it's important to consider ways like these to boost your efficiency.
- Use heated seats instead of cabin heater: Whether or not your EV has a heat pump, it'll still make a difference to utilize the seat heater over the heating system in cold conditions. Especially if you preheat the cabin while charging, running the cabin heater may be unnecessary. In this case, utilizing the seat heater could be a supplemental addition for comfort without the expense of using the entire cabin climate system.