One of the most important factors affecting driving comfort and road holding in vehicles is winter conditions. There are some situations that electric car users should pay attention to in the winter months when the air temperatures are low and adverse conditions such as snow and icing are observed. In this article called Tips for Electric Car Drivers in Winter, we share in detail the situations that electric vehicle users should pay attention to in cold weather conditions.
Can an Electric Car Be Used in Winter?
There are some factors that affect the use of electric cars in cold weather. However, these factors do not mean that vehicles cannot be used. It should not be forgotten that charging times will be longer and the range will be shortened before the electric car journey is planned during the winter conditions. Therefore, the distance to be traveled and charging stops should be calculated before the journey.
Electric cars, which offer a comfortable and safe experience even in cold climates such as Norway and England, can perform better than conventional cars. Electric cars have better designs than other traditional ones. Placing the batteries closer to the ground to keep the center of gravity lower increases the grip of electric cars on snowy and icy roads.
With electric cars, gentle use of the accelerator pedal is required for safe driving in icy and slippery conditions. The braking system in vehicles can reduce adverse risks such as slipping or losing control on icy roads.
Most electric cars have all-wheel drive. This feature helps with more traction and promises a safe and comfortable ride even in bad weather conditions.
Charging an Electric Car in Winter
- Charging Guide: Electric cars operate less efficiently in winter just like conventional cars. This causes vehicles to travel less distance per charge. The decrease in efficiency affects daily use less. However, if long-distance planning is to be made, the appropriate route should be drawn and charging models should be taken into account.
- Charging Times: The charging time of electric vehicle batteries depends on some factors. These are: the maximum charging speed of the charger, the maximum charging speed of the battery, the current charge in the battery, the battery capacity and environmental factors. Cold weather conditions can extend the charging time of electric cars. It is recommended to do this at night, as more time is needed to charge the vehicles.
Electric Car Driving Preparation in Winter
- Remote Preconditioning: Many electric car models are produced in accordance with preconditioning. The internal temperature can be adjusted through the application integrated into smart phones. Thus, a comfortable environment is created by adjusting the interior temperature of the vehicle before going on a journey. In addition, the possible icing problem that the vehicle may experience is also eliminated by preconditioning. Preconditioning ensures that the vehicle battery warms up and therefore works efficiently.
- The Effect of Cold Weather on the Battery: Cold weather affects the chemical reaction of lithium-ion batteries. As a result of this situation, the performance of the battery may decrease.
Do Electric Car Drivers Have Problems in Snowy Periods?
Those who use electric cars do not have problems in snowy periods. The traction feature on all wheels in electric vehicles ensures a safe process even on snowy and icy surfaces. In order to maintain vehicle performance in cold weather, maintenance and repairs should be paid attention to, and tires should be checked regularly. It is also very important to use suitable tires in order to achieve superior driving comfort in harsh winter conditions.
Do Electric Cars Work in the Cold?
During the use of electric vehicles in winter, situations such as non-operation are less common compared to conventional vehicles. Electric cars have much less moving parts that can break down or cause malfunctions compared to conventional cars. Thanks to this advantage, situations such as deterioration or degradation of components are less encountered.
To maximize battery efficiency, you should set the battery temperature and climate control to precondition about 30 minutes before the trip. During this process, the vehicle must be plugged into the charging unit.
How Does an Electric Car Heat?
Battery energy is used to heat electric cars. The full vehicle battery ensures the ideal level of heating of the vehicle interior. However, it should be noted that battery energy will be consumed and the range will be shortened. Before using an electric car in winter, the road route and range should be calculated considering all these conditions.
The preconditioning feature in electric cars allows the interior temperature to be adjusted remotely. Thus, before the journey, the interior temperature of the car is brought to the ideal level and the ice in the mechanisms begins to defrost.
Electric vehicles can be air-conditioned depending on the number of passengers. The driver’s seat can be heated only when the driver is traveling. This ensures an economical and economical journey.
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