Here are some recommendations on how to get the best electric vehicle range in winter.

Cold weather affects your electric car’s range (reduces it), as the EV battery normally loses power faster and charges longer at low temperatures.

There are 10 Tips on how to save energy and optimize the driving range of your electric car during the cold season.

1. Park your vehicle in a garage if possible

The warmth of a garage does matter. Keeping your electric car inside in winter helps hold the battery charge for longer and charge more quickly.

Also, if you are out and can choose between outdoor parking or indoor parking – prefer the latter.

2. Keep your electric vehicle plugged in when parked.

3. Warm up your EV in the morning

Most electric cars come with apps for heating up your vehicle before departure. Heat up the cabin to the desired temperature and warm up the battery to aid performance.

Most EVs are charged at home overnight. If your car is still plugged in when you begin heating it, the battery charge is not tapped.

4. Don’t allow a too-low battery charge

Keep your car’s battery charged above 15-20% or at least 50% in ideal to maintain the vehicle’s performance at an optimal level.

This is because in frosts the EV battery management system reserves a certain percentage (usually 15-20 percent) of the battery capacity to heat the battery up.

5. Turn off the heater when charging

When you’re charging your electric car, especially if using a direct current fast charger, lower the temperature enough to stay comfortable or turn the heater off, if possible.

6. Heat a person instead of heating the whole car

Unlike ICE-powered cars, EVs produce little additional waste heat to help warm up the interior. When it is cold, blasting the heat can drain the EV’s battery and reduce the driving range.

So, try to restrict heating to just the driver. To reduce energy consumption by HVAC, use the heated seats and steering wheel as primary heat.

7. Inflate your tires

Regularly check the pressure of your tires in order to maximize the driving range in the cold season. The air in tires contracts and the pressure falls at low temperatures.

Needless to say that in winter your car should be shod with winter tires in regions where it gets really cold and snowy.

8. Use Eco-Mode

If your electric vehicle has an eco-mode or something like that, use it, as this feature helps boost mileage and reduce power consumption. It limits the energy supplied to cabin heaters or a driving motor.

Moreover, slower acceleration makes driving safer in icy and snowy conditions.

9. Сlear your electric car of all snow before hitting the road

If the vehicle is covered with snow, brush it off before getting behind the wheel to eliminate extra weight and drag.

10. Drive at moderate speeds

Нigh speeds use more energy, so, to save energy, keep driving speeds moderate in winter.