Driving in wintery conditions isn’t at the top of everyone’s list, but sometimes it has to be done. How does driving an electric vehicle in winter compare to an internal combustion engine (ICE) car we hear you ask? It doesn’t! Both have their downfalls and advantages but electric vehicles are perfectly safe to be driving in the colder months.
If you’re looking to buy an electric vehicle, do not let myths stop you. Using our easy guide will enable you to safely drive an EV in winter.
THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN DRIVING AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE IN THE WINTER
The best way to avoid a breakdown in the winter is to be prepared. With our winter ready guide below, you’ll be able to navigate your way through the colder months with your EV.
RANGE
The biggest disadvantage is the range reduction. Most people are unaware that electric vehicles do not lose range because of the weather conditions. In fact, they actually have a slight reduction in range because of the additional power demand to heat the car up and get it going.
Internal combustion engine cars have an extra component that electric vehicles do not, an engine. This plays a huge role in heating the vehicle up. The battery will power other means to help the car warm up instead, which is why most EV drivers will see a deduction in their normal range.
REGENERATIVE BRAKING
The cold weather will impact regenerative braking in an electric vehicle. Regenerative braking is a handy tool to have to gain additional charge in your EV. When a driver slows down, the vehicle pulls back extra energy to put back into the battery. As the vehicle will need to use an increased amount of power to heat the car, it will not be able to recoup as much energy back from the regenerative braking.
CHARGING
Starting up an electric vehicle in colder weather will take a lot more power to do. If you’ve left your vehicle with minimal charge this may be an issue for you, so we highly recommend not leaving it too low. Leaving 20% charge in the vehicle at all times is the suggested amount to ensure you can get the car started.
Another tip to remember is to multitask! Keep your vehicle running whilst you charge and get it toasty enough for the journey ahead. This will save you turning on the heating when you do set off. When you buy a Tesla from EV Sales, you’ll benefit from warming your car up from the comfort of your home. Enjoy a cuppa while you wait for the app to warm your vehicle up instead!
PRE-WINTER SAFETY CHECKS
WINDSCREEN
In case this isn’t completely obvious to all drivers, the windscreen is something that should be kept maintained. When it comes to the windscreen, if there are any cracks then they will only get worse when the cold weather hits. The wiper blades also need to be checked to ensure they are in a good enough condition to clear your view properly.
We wouldn’t recommend attempting to clear your window when you have snow or ice covering your vehicle. Heating up the car and then using a scraper will be sufficient, otherwise you could be damaging the wiper blades and decreasing the life of them.
If you’re looking to buy an electric vehicle from us, we will carry out all the necessary checks to ensure you are receiving a car in the best condition possible.
CARRY ESSENTIALS
In any weather it is vital that you also have some essentials to hand just in case you do breakdown. Consider storing extra clothing, spare shoes, blankets, food supplies, a windscreen scraper and a tyre pump. They can be safely stored away until required in a boot. Luckily all of our used electric vehicles come with ample storage space, so there’s no need to worry about running out of room.
TYRE CHECKS
It is important to carry out regular tyre checks to ensure they are road legal. To avoid any unnecessary breakdowns or potential accidents, always check your tyres before any journey, especially during winter!
DRIVING
If driving in snow and ice worries you, then you’re in luck. When you drive an electric car in wintery conditions, you are less likely to slip and slide when accelerating. Due to having no gears and a smooth motor, it is much safer driving an electric vehicle.
Most EVs are also built with narrow eco tyres, which will help when driving on packed snow.
READY TO BUY AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE?
EV Sales is the home of all quality secondhand EVs. If you’re looking to buy an electric vehicle, you’ve come to the right place.
When you buy an EV for sale you’ll benefit from a three month warranty, a car that has only one registered owner, and we can deliver the vehicle to a home or workplace of your choice. We will ensure the vehicle is as good as new before it goes out to its new owner, for your own peace of mind.
We have a range of used EVs for sale including:
- Tesla
- BMW
- Renault
All of our electric vehicles can be viewed on our website. All of the vehicles above are available to hire on a short term basis our sister company, EVision Electric Vehicle Hire should you wish to try them out first. You are more than welcome to give us a call on 01634 914063 should you require any further information. Additionally an appointment can be scheduled to come and see the car in person.