6 Fall and Winter EV Battery Tips for Worry-Free Travel

Cold weather has arrived and brought its friends, ice and snow, to much of North America, Europe, and Asia. Regardless of the type of vehicle, every driver must be more careful on the road and take special precautions when operating or maintaining their vehicle. With that in mind, we have compiled six fall and winter battery tips for electric vehicle (EV) drivers that can help you navigate the harshest time of year.

Why Does Cold Weather Affect Electric Vehicles?

It’s not just EV batteries that are affected by cold temperatures. All batteries are affected to some degree by the cold. In the case of EV batteries, lithium ions (Li-ion) tend to move slower through the liquid electrolyte when it’s cold. This slower movement means they release less energy, causing the EV battery to drain faster.

In addition, unlike gas cars, EVs do not produce any thermal waste energy. Running an internal combustion engine (ICE) runs, produces heat energy during its chemical processes, and only up to 30% of this energy is used to power the wheels. This heat is not used to power the vehicle and typically dissipates into the air. However, in cold weather, this waste heat is used to keep your vehicle cabin warm. For comparison, battery electric vehicles use a battery, not internal combustion. For this reason, EVs are more energy efficient and “convert over 77% of the electrical energy from the grid to power at the wheels,” according to FuelEconomy.gov. Since EVs do not combust fuel and therefore do not produce waste heat, they must use their batteries to heat inside of your EV. This is an additional drain on the battery. 

These vehicle accessories may also increase battery drain in the winter: 

• Cell phone chargers 

• Heated seats 

• Dash cams 

Note that it is not only your vehicle’s range that will be affected by cold weather. When batteries are cold, they also take longer to charge. Drivers also find that many EVs require a small amount of electricity to begin a charge… you can’t charge from 0.00%!

How Much Range Do EVs Lose in the Cold?

Every EV behaves differently, but studies from EV battery research company Recurrent Auto has shown that up to 30% of an EV’s battery range can be lost in cold weather. It’s important to remember that this range loss is temporary and cold weather does not have lasting negative effects on a battery. As soon as the weather starts to warm up again, your EV battery will go back to its normal function.

Other testing by Consumer Reports has shown that short trips taken in the cold that include frequent stops and require the EV cabin to be reheated after parking can drain up to 50% of an EV’s range. Importantly, it should also be noted that many other factors can lead to loss of range, including: speed, traffic, cargo, passengers, weather, hills, and internal climate settings.

How to Prepare for Driving an EV in the Cold

Like with any vehicle, EV drivers must be prepared for cold weather and how it will change how your EV operates. Here are some tips for EV fall and winter travel. 

1. Keep a closer eye on your battery level

Most EV drivers tend to keep a close eye on their battery level, but it becomes even more important in cold weather. With a reduced range, checking your battery level should be something that you regularly do while driving.

It’s important to also remember that cold weather begins to affect EV battery range before temperatures drop below freezing. Consumer Reports found that the range starts to drop at around 40F (4C). The consumer advocacy organization points out that this range impact could be of particular concern to drivers who are waiting in line to charge their vehicle when their battery is low. Even though it may not be freezing outside, your range could still suffer, especially if you are heating your vehicle.

To ensure that you always have enough electricity to get you to where you need to go (or get you to the nearest public EV charging station), we recommend that you leave yourself a “cushion” charge earlier and more frequently, especially if you are in an older vehicle that may have already lost some of its initial range.

2. Precondition your car

If you’re not familiar with the concept of preconditioning your EV, it’s a little like having a command start for an ICE vehicle. When ICE vehicles have command start, drivers can start the vehicle so it’s already warm when the family is ready to leave. (However, drivers must be careful when preconditioning an ICE car in case of methane gas.)  When you precondition an EV, you let your car warm up and defrost while it is still connected to the charging station and only unplug it once it is done warming up. This allows the vehicle to use power from the charging station to warm itself rather than using battery power. And the best news? No worries about dangerous methane gas filling your home garage!

Depending on your EV, your vehicle app may also allow you to schedule a departure time so the vehicle is preconditioned when you are ready to go. Some vehicles also have a “winter weather” setting that lets the car automatically keep the battery at an optimal temperature for driving and charging.

3. Rely on heated surfaces more than heated air

Heating surfaces in your EV, like the seats and steering wheel, is easier and takes less energy than heating the air in the cabin. So, opt for a lower cabin temperature (while still keeping it comfortable enough to drive) and use the heated surfaces for the majority of your heating.

4. Refrain from a total battery drain

Get into the habit of not letting your EV battery get below 20%, especially if you plan to park your EV for a while. You always want to have enough power to at least get to the nearest public charging station, which you can find using the Blink Mobile App.

If you do run out of battery, your emergency roadside assistance company may offer mobile charging to give you enough boost to get to a charger. If your roadside assistance or towing company does not have this service, however, CarMax recommends requesting a flatbed so your wheels are not spinning on the road.

5. Consider a heat pump

Heat pumps for EVs are a relatively new concept that are starting to find their way into newer EV models and are an option on others. Recurrent Automotive says they are more efficient than standard resistive heaters and can help to preserve battery range in winter.

According to Recurrent: “[Using a heat pump] is very similar to air conditioning, but inverted. Air is drawn from the outside and run through a condenser that contains refrigerant. This solution is compressed, which raises the temperature, allowing for hot air to be pumped into the cabin. This process, while also energy intensive, is much more efficient.”

As noted by the Washington Post, "having a heat pump can cut range loss in half," from a 20% range loss to only 11%.

6. Install a Level 2 charging station

If feasible, install your own Level 2 (L2) charging station, like the Blink HQ-200 at your home. Having an L2 charging station you can rely on will provide faster charges than the Level 1 charger your vehicle came with.

Don’t have access to home charging? Ask your property manager about installing commercial Level 2 chargers, such as the new Series 7 ISO charging station, at your apartment community or workplace. The EV charging experience is most seamless when it fits into your everyday lifestyle.

Conclusion

Like with every aspect of driving an EV, dealing with cold weather and how it affects the vehicle takes some getting used to. You can make sure that your EV operates problem-free throughout the cold months by following these simple cold-weather tips and monitoring your EV battery level. To speak with a residential or commercial EV charging expert, please contact Blink Charging today.