Most electric vehicles have lithium-iron batteries as their main power source, as they’re lightweight, store lots of energy and have a long life. You might have heard that this type of battery isn’t as efficient in cold weather – but while it’s true lithium-ion batteries can be sensitive to temperature, there are several simple ways to help make winter driving more efficient and minimise the impact on your trips.
In this article:
Why does cold weather affect electric cars?
The batteries in EVs use a chemical reaction to store and release energy. This reaction becomes less efficient in lower temperatures, meaning electric vehicles can’t hold as much charge. The result is a range reduction of around 15-20% on the coldest days.
Modern electric cars have thermal management systems to help mitigate these effects. On shorter trips it’s likely you won’t notice a difference at all, but if you’re planning a longer journey in freezing conditions you may want to schedule a charge slightly earlier than normal.
Tips for driving and charging in winter weather
With a little bit of preparation you can beat the cold weather and use your EV to the fullest all year round. After all, Norway is much colder than the UK and leads the world in electric vehicle adoption. Here are some top tips for driving in cold weather.
Keep the battery topped up. Colder weather will increase charging time. Plugging in overnight helps make sure you’re always ready to go.
You may notice that public chargers take slightly longer to charge while you’re out and about, so it’s worth factoring it in on longer journeys.
Pre-heat your car while it’s plugged-in. unlike petrol cars, electric vehicles don’t have heat from an engine to warm the cabin. Instead, they use energy directly from the battery – the same source that powers the car.
Heating the cabin is energy-intensive process, so it’s best done while still plugged-in. That way you can start in a warm car with a fully-charged battery, maximising your mileage. In many cars you can schedule heating from an app. It should make scraping ice off the windows much easier too.
If you charge your car at work, you could set it to be nice and toasty for when you leave.
Stay under cover. If you’re lucky enough to have a garage, keeping your EV in there overnight or during the coldest spells can make a big difference. The battery and cabin will both be naturally warmer, meaning you can head off without delay.
Drive more efficiently. While we wouldn’t want to deny you the thrill of the open road, motoring at higher speeds uses more power. Simply slowing down a few mph can help save energy, not to mention keeping you safer in snowy conditions.
Activating eco mode in your EV will also help boost mileage and conserve energy. While you can use it year-round, you’re likely to feel the benefits more in winter.
Check your tyre pressures. Under-inflated tyres can increase rolling resistance against the road, resulting in more energy needed to drive the same distance.
In colder weather the air in tyres contracts more, reducing the pressure, so it’s worth taking a moment to check the pressure.
Maximise your mileage in cold conditions
- Control the chemistry – a battery’s chemical reaction slows in cold weather. Keeping your EV in a garage, or plugged in at home, helps it work more efficiently.
- Heat before you leave – on cold days, pre-heating the car while still plugged-in helps preserve battery life and increase range.
- Add some time to your trip – plan slightly earlier charging stops on longer journeys.
- Efficiency is key – drive more smoothly, use eco mode and keep an eye on tyre pressure help maximise range.
