You may not be able to stop ‘Jack Frost’ from nipping at your nose this winter, but you can certainly keep him from biting at your electric vehicle! This time of year, you should expect to experience reduced range in the colder weather.

Your battery becomes less and less potent in colder conditions as it works to heat you and get you to your destination. As a result, you reduce your overall range capacity and increase your need to charge your EV more often. The need for EV charging in winter is much greater than in the warm summer months.

To avoid unpleasant surprises this winter, like running out of power and being stranded in the cold, try these tips to maximise your EV range:

Pre-heat the interior while your EV is still charging: Pre-heating your vehicle while it’s plugged in seems simple enough to remember in the wintertime (where the capability exists). Get as much power and usage as you can from your charging station to reduce strain while the vehicle is in use. Once you’re heated and charged, you’ll be good to go without putting an excess drain on your battery life.

Managing your heat usage: Once the vehicle is heated through, turn off the vehicle’s interior heat and turn on the heated seats and steering wheel if you have those options. Heating the vehicle’s accessories, like the seats and steering wheel, uses less energy and draws less power from the battery; as such, you’ll have more overall range on your travels. If you pre-heated the car while it was plugged in, your vehicle should still be warm enough inside that the heated accessories will continue to keep you warm.

Switch to ECO mode: When present, switching to ECO mode helps maximise your EV as it reduces power consumption across the board. Using ECO mode during the cold winter months means your acceleration may be a bit slower because you’ll be dedicating more power toward your actual drive. But I think we can all agree that less power certainly outweighs running out of power. Otherwise, try to accelerate slower and keep your driving speeds moderate as high speeds and harsh acceleration use more energy.

If possible, park in a garage: Obviously, this is not an available option for everyone, but if you have a garage, park your vehicle inside to give it a few extra degrees of warmth. During the day, park in the places with the most available light. Absorbing natural heat from the sun will undoubtedly keep the battery warm and prolong its usage and the EV range.

Remove excess weight from the car: This is simple math — the more weight in the vehicle, the more energy and power it consumes. Be sure to remove the kid’s sports gear and the extra cases of fizzy drinks you bought at the supermarket. Also, be sure to remove accumulated snow and ice from the exterior, as this also adds weight to your vehicle. The bottom line is to remove any extra weight that may create more energy to run your EV.

Check tyre pressure: Of course, checking the tyre pressure is not unique to EVs, but in this scenario, when you are attempting to maximise your EV range, it makes even more sense to do so. Try checking your tyre pressure regularly. Add a reminder or a task to your calendar to check the tyre pressure every Sunday to ensure you’re set for the coming week.

Benefits of an EV

Tracking ways to maximise your EV range may seem like quite a bit of extra work that you didn’t need to worry about with a traditional vehicle. These additional steps are well worth it when looking at the long-term benefits of driving an EV.

The positive impacts on the environment are enormous. As we begin transitioning to electric vehicles, we take the initial steps toward a greener tomorrow.

• No more fuel. Think of your bottom-line savings and the savings you will accumulate.
• Install a home charger, and you can charge your vehicle from the comfort of your own home.
• Electric vehicles have fewer parts which mean less maintenance.
• Going green has even more significant benefits to your bottom line through tax credits and incentives.