Cold temperatures slow down the chemical reactions within car batteries and reduce their ability to hold a charge. Additionally, the electrolyte solution inside these batteries can become too cold, causing these components to become inoperative. Therefore, it’s important to take proper precautions when charging your EV in cold weather.
Most EVs can run 400 miles on a single charge under regular conditions. You can expect around 30% range loss when driving in cold weather.
Keep in mind that you may need to make more stops than usual if you’re planning to drive your EV for a longer trip. It’s also a good idea to find a charging station in a sheltered and warm area to reduce exposure to snow, limiting its negative effects on the battery.
Here are other tips that can help you keep your EV’s battery in tiptop shape during the cold winter months.
Planning your charging session could save you valuable time on the road. Some EVs let you schedule charging sessions using the manufacturer’s mobile app.
This means you can expect your EV to be fully charged right before using it. Do note of the increased charging time during the winter if you want to maximize efficiency.
You should also utilize your EV’s preheat mode, which lets you warm the cabin while it’s charging. Preheating the car prevents battery draining when it heats the interior. Like the first tip, preheating is another way to maximize charging and driving time.
The next best thing is heated seats/steering wheel if your EV doesn’t have preheat mode. These components don’t use as much energy, slightly prolonging the battery.
An EV’s eco mode reduces battery usage by limiting motor power. This helps you save energy and extend battery range. As such, it’s the perfect way to drive during the winter after hours of charging as you don’t want to quickly drain your battery.
Smart chargers evaluate the battery’s condition and adjust power levels, resulting in faster and more efficient charging. For reference, they provide 7kW of power while standard plug chargers only give 2kW output.
Smart chargers also prevent overcharging, as they automatically stop the process when the EV reaches ideal capacity. Overcharging an EV battery may result in overheating, failure, and other complications.
Always check for software updates, as manufacturers occasionally roll out performance improvements or charging-related updates. Some companies offer over-the-air updates, removing the need to visit service centers and only requiring wifi to download and install.
It’s been mentioned a few times that charging an EV in the winter often starts with warming the battery first. This action is why you shouldn’t let your battery go below 20% since your car may use up the remaining power to heat the battery before charging.
In the same vein, keeping your EV plugged in is a safety net similar to the 20% rule. Your EV will use electricity to keep the batteries warm when it’s charging.
Keep it plugged in and turn the heaters on before driving to provide the extra power it needs to warm the batteries. Do this for at least 20 minutes before you leave.
Charging an EV in cold temperatures takes longer because the battery pack’s chemical and physical reactions are slower. After all, the unit is cold. No matter what charger type you use, expect longer charging times in winter.
A Level 1 charger will only keep the battery warm and may not give it the power to drive the EV. This is especially true in freezing winter temperatures when the conditions are harsher. Regardless, it’s not recommended to use a trickle charger in cold weather.
The charging time of Level 2 chargers differs depending on how long your EV has been idle. If it’s been sitting for a prolonged period, expect the charge to start slowly, as it warms the battery first.
You can use the charger’s mobile app (if available) to monitor how the charging times fluctuate when the weather drops.
DC fast chargers will charge your EV quickest, regardless of the weather. With DC chargers, your EV battery can go from 20% to 80% in only 30 minutes. You can expect the charge time to increase if the battery isn’t warm yet. Regardless, Level 3 chargers are the best choice for winter charging.
As for the actual charging times, expect the battery to charge 30% slower, depending on the charger type. It’s not an exact calculation, but it should give you a general idea of how long it takes to fully charge.
If you usually charge for one hour to get a certain range, expect the charging time to increase to one hour and 18 minutes. Again, use this formula as a reference and not the actual computation.
Any information provided on this Website is for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace consultation with a professional mechanic. The accuracy and timeliness of the information may change from the time of publication.