Amsterdam, 15 december 2022 – We’re in the middle of winter. The time of beautiful Christmas lights, hot choco (with marshmallows!), a crackling fire in the hearth, and joyfulness! But… The cold is becoming a daily recurring thing. Winter isn’t coming… Winter is here! December means creating clouds of smoke by breathing outside, frost on the windows (which means you’re going to have to scrape them), and trembling from the cold until your car heats up. The cold doesn’t only take your energy, but also the energy of your car. Which is why we’ll bring you an article full of tips on how to survive the winter with your EV, and how to prepare yourself best to get to your destination.
Tip 1: Make sure your car is ready for winter
First things first: it’s important to make sure your car is ready for winter; both for safety as well as saving battery. Make sure to use 4-season tires, or to switch to winter tires instead of summer tires when the day-temperatures are 7 degrees or less. Winter tires have an increased grip on the road, which, for EV’s, lessens the loss of battery percentage. With this, you keep as close to your EV’s range as possible.
Tip 2: Save as much energy as possible
Heat
Cold weather influences the battery of electric vehicles. How can you make sure to drive as efficiently as possible? It’s important to know how to save your car’s battery range. For example, it’s good to preheat your car for a while before you leave, while it’s still charging. This way, you’ll be warm and cozy in your car, without it costing extra battery while you drive. If you’re still cold, you can use the seat heating, instead of the central car heating. The seat heating uses around 25% less energy. You can also always put on an extra layer of clothing, then you won’t need the heating in your car at all.
Efficient driving
While driving your car, you can also make sure to handle your battery’s range as efficiently as possible. Using your accelerator properly already goes a long way. EV’s have a shorter braking distance than fossil fueled cars. This is because electric cars win back energy when the wheels turn while the accelerator isn’t used. This way, you basically charge your car while hitting the brakes!
Limit extra usage
It’s also advisable to use as little electronics as possible during your trip. For example, turn off your radio, don’t charge your phone while driving, and turn off the seat heating once you’re toasty warm.
Tip 3: Always bring a charging cable
In the winter, the battery of your car stores less energy, which means you can drive smaller distances than you might be used to. Make sure you always bring a charging cable, so you can always charge when necessary. Always keep your charging cable dry; in the winter it can freeze and get stuck in the plug connector of your EV. Should this happen anyway, make sure to leave disconnecting the charging cable to roadside assistance. They have specialised equipment with which they can safely disconnect the plug.
Is your battery very low when you leave, or is it freezing outside? Don’t forget to bring your charging cable, ánd your E-Flux charge-card; this way, you won’t have to deal with any unwelcome surprises! With the E-Flux charge-card you can be sure you’re always able to charge your EV for the best price. Thanks to our widespread network there’s always a place available where you can charge.
