If you own an electric vehicle (EV), master some tips to protect your EV in winter. According to the American Automobile Association (AAA), the range of your EV can be reduced by 10-12% at a temperature of 7°C (44.6°F). Even when the temperature drops to -6°C (20°F), depending on the model, the range can be reduced by as much as 41%.

7 Must-know tips to protect your EV in winter

Guide to driving and charging to protect your EV in winter

1. The way to protect your EV in winter – Park your EV in a garage

Most electric vehicle batteries use lithium-ion. Moreover, lithium-ion batteries offer reliable power for electronic devices, from smartphones to electric vehicles. Lithium-ion works optimally in the temperature range of 15-35°C (59-95°F) and can drain faster when the temperatures drop.

To minimize unwanted impact, park your EV in a garage to help stabilize the temperature. Some experts also recommend keeping the battery above 20%.

2. The way to protect your EV in winter – Warm up your EV before driving

In addition to the cause that comes from the physical characteristics of the battery. Many factors can decrease the range of electric vehicles in cold weather. For example, after a long night, the EV needs more energy to warm the battery. So, pre-heat is necessary when operating your EV in winter to keep all the parts lubricated and running smoothly. The air’s density increases as the temperature drops. It also causes the electric vehicle to take more energy from the battery, especially when driving at high speeds.

Although the EV range works best in areas with warm weather, tips to protect your EV in winter can help it work well even if you live in other parts with cold weather.

3. The way to protect your EV in winter – Plan for charging your EV in cold weather

Keeping your EV battery between 20-80% helps prolong its lifespan. Ideally, start charging when the battery reaches about 20%, and should never be charged beyond 80%.

In addition, the EV charging times are significantly longer in cold weather. It can even take 2–3 times as long as usual. Therefore, check out your EV charging time and find the shortest way between charging station locations throughout the journey.

The best way to handle this is to set the time to start charging to reach 80% before starting your journey. Because the chemical reaction generates heat during charging, keeping the battery warm saves energy.

4. Efficient heating for electric vehicles

Electric vehicles have no “natural” heat sources. They use electricity to generate heat instead of using fossil fuels (petrol or diesel) like conventional cars. This has a significant impact on the range of electric vehicles. To keep your EV in good condition, turn on the heating system for 30 minutes before driving while keeping your EV plugged in. This way saves battery and increases the range.

In addition, during the journey, you can save electricity by using seat and steering wheel heating instead of cabin heating. In particular, do not cut back on safety equipment such as windshield wipers, and headlights, because they use less energy.

5. Use regenerative braking often

The regenerative braking converts the vehicle’s kinetic energy to electric energy that recharges the batteries and increases energy efficiency. In addition, leveraging a regenerative braking system can improve energy consumption and maximize your EV’s range.

6. Maintain smooth driving habits

Driving habits can affect energy consumption. Regular rapid acceleration and sudden braking can reduce the range of electric vehicles. Moreover, speeding, ice, snow, icy pavement, or slushy pavement can increase dangerous situations such as crashes, and accidents.

7. Use eco-driving

All electric vehicles have an eco-mode that reduces the energy supply to the engine and other equipment that can affect energy such as heating, cooling, and lighting systems,… Therefore, using energy-saving mode is the best way to reduce energy consumption and optimize the range of your EV when driving in the winter.