How Well Do Electric Cars Work in Cold Weather?
How Well Do Electric Cars Work in Cold Weather?
When the weather starts getting frightful, how will your electric car fare? Cold temperatures can affect electric vehicles when driving in raw weather around Farmington Hills, Novi, and Livonia, Michigan. Your EV can survive in cold weather—you just need to know how to prepare for those days. Serra Ford Farmington Hills can be your guide!
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What Cold Weather Does to Electric Cars
EVs don’t love cold weather. When it gets colder, your driving range can decrease by quite a bit. If your EV touts a range of 250 miles, for instance, you may only be able to count on 150 miles at the max when it’s 20 degrees out or less.
Your natural instinct when it’s cold outside is to use the heat, which may include temperature control, steering wheel, heated seats, and even the exterior defroster. An EV loses battery power due to the cold weather. Using the heating elements and the headlights wear on the battery as well.
Due to the cold, the battery must work harder. It cannot store or release as much energy, therefore it’s less efficient and may charge at a much slower rate.
Your EV brakes may be affected, too. The regenerative braking system in many electric cars generally collects the energy that is distributed back to the battery. This builds up the charge in more moderate temperatures. When the temperature drops, this valuable system may not even work.
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Ways to Keep Your Electric Car Warm
You may be wondering if an electric car may be a wise choice in cold weather. It is, and it’s important to keep in mind that you simply need to know how to care for your car during this time.
Make sure that you keep your car in the garage when it’s not in use. It can stay hooked up to the charger and maintain a more comfortable cabin temperature.
Also, this eliminates the arduous and energy-sapping task of using the defroster and cleaning off your car when it’s snowing outside or snowing the night before. Plus, snow and ice clinging to your electric car can increase drag.
Before you decide to go out for work or errands, heat up your EV in the garage. This gets your battery up to temperature without the cold bearing down on your car. Your cabin will feel cozy, and your car will operate business as usual without any concerns that your battery will not work.
When you know that you’re embarking on a long journey, make sure you know where to go for the next charging session. It’s a good idea to ensure that the charge level doesn’t decrease too much. It should stay above 15 to 20 percent of its capacity.
Check Out Electric Cars During Any Kind of Weather
Whether you shop for electric cars during cold or warm weather, there are ways to ensure that your EV operates at the optimum after you buy it. Remember to keep your electric car in your Farmington Hills, Novi, or Livonia, MI garage and follow other tips listed above.
To learn more about electric cars and if they could work for your lifestyle, contact Serra Ford Farmington Hills.
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  1. Serra Ford Farmington Hills

    39300 W 10 Mile Rd
    Farmington Hills, MI 48335

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