One of the main reasons the range is shortened during winter months is that when the temperature drop, the electric car needs to draw energy from the battery to heat the cabin to keep drivers and passengers warm. Unlike the inefficient internal combustion engine, no excess heat is produced that can be used to heat the passenger compartment. Furthermore, the chemical and physical reactions in the battery of an electric car take place much more slowly in low temperatures. The cold creates a natural resistance which reduces the available power. To counteract this phenomenon the car uses energy to heat up the battery to make more power available.
When we know what causes the reduced range, there are a handful of things we can keep in mind to optimize range in winter conditions.
- It takes more energy to heat a cold car than it does to keep a warm car warm. So if possible, warm the car as much as possible while it is connected to a charger. For that reason, it may be a good idea to always connect your electric car to the charging box at home.
- When the car is warm and you are out on the journey, try to mainly use the seat heaters and the steering wheel heater to maintain a comfortable temperature. They use less energy than the interior heater.
- Some electric cars limit the charging speed when the battery is cold, which is often the case in winter. Therefore, expect that it may take longer to reach optimal charging speed, and use the car’s battery pre-heating function before your fast charging stop.
- Anyone who lives in a cold climate should consider an electric car with a heat pump. It definitely makes a difference to the range in the winter.
Recurrent has compared different electric cars and how they handle the cold, read more about that here.
