Some car shoppers are skeptical about the performance of electric vehicles, especially in parts of the country that experience severely cold winters. Indeed, electric vehicles are most popular in warmer climates such as California or the South. While cold weather can have a negative effect on your electric vehicle, the truth is that no vehicle—whether electric or gas—runs at peak performance when temperatures fall below freezing.
Cold weather can affect the range of your electric vehicle, but not as much as you might fear. Lithium batteries used in EVs supply power by moving lithium ions between anodes and cathodes. Cold weather slows these reactions down, reducing the amount of power that they can supply. Fortunately, EV manufacturers have anticipated this issue, and include heat pumps in their cars and trucks.
The heat pumps work by absorbing heat from the atmosphere and compressing it with a refrigerant circuit. This exchange increases the cabin heat, allowing warm air to be blown into the car, without using power from your battery.
Despite the work of the heat pump, the range of an EV will suffer in the cold, but there are some steps an EV owner can take to lessen the impact.
- Buy range-It’s important to purchase a car with as much range as you can afford. You should try to determine what your daily driving needs are and find a vehicle with a range of double that number.
- When charging your EV at home, it’s best to do so in the garage. It’s even better if your garage is heated.
- To conserve on your driving, try to combine trips and don’t use the car any more than is necessary.
- Bundle up-Instead of running the heat at its highest setting, wear warmer clothes when driving. Seat warmers will help to keep you comfortable.
- Watch your speed-Besides the fact that speeding on icy roads is a terrible idea, speed reduces the range of an EV.
- Winter tires-Changing your tires for the winter months can help to conserve battery power…and they’re safer on icy roads.
- Keep your battery warm- To avoid losing power, and thus reducing range, make sure you’re plugging in your EV as much as possible. Your battery should be at least 20% charged at all times. You can also help keep your battery warm by removing any snow or ice that’s on your car, and always park in the sun if possible.
Although the cold weather can present challenges, it shouldn’t deter you from purchasing an electric vehicle. You will lose come range, but how much range you lose in the cold depends on the car you drive, how you drive it, how you heat it, how cold it is outside, and where you park.
Located in Westborough, Route 9 Nissan proudly serves Nissan car shoppers and owners throughout the Northborough and North Grafton areas with a diverse inventory of new and used vehicles. Whether you need a spacious, family-friendly SUV, an adaptable pickup truck, or a sleek sedan, we have a new Nissan model ready to suit your needs. Our highly trained sales team is here to help you select your next vehicle, and our factory trained certified service technicians are equipped to handle any of your service needs.
If you have any automotive needs, we hope you’ll stop by and let us take care of you. For more information about or dealership visit our website or give us a call at 866-922-2762. We look forward to meeting you!