Get the most out of your EV in the snowy season by taking advantage of these helpful tips!
1. Park in a Garage
Parking your electric vehicle inside a garage will protect it from the cold. Specifically, the battery will benefit from being kept in relatively warmer temperatures than what mother nature has to offer, in many cases. In addition, keeping your vehicles protected from extreme weather also helps the longevity of their structural integrity.
2. Keep it Plugged in
Have your vehicle plugged into a charging station when possible. This will mitigate the possibility of the battery draining.
Photo: AP News
3. Use Heated Seats/Steering Wheel
If possible, try to use the heated seats and steering wheel systems to warm yourself up while inside the car. These systems work in a more energy-efficient manner than the car's HVAC system. That's because they target the heat to the occupant, as opposed to disbursing it within the entire cabin.
Photo: Lightning Owners
4. Brush Off Snow Before Driving
Cleaning your vehicle off of any accrued snow before driving off is always a good practice. Driving with snow on the car means extra weight has to be carried. Also, the snow can disturb the aerodynamic design of the car, both of which equate to more energy usage. Plus, the possibility of chunks of snow flying off your car while on the road also poses a hazard to other drivers.
5. Lower Driving Speeds
The higher the speed, the higher the energy usage. And this is especially true in cold weather conditions as the battery and powertrain system are already under stress.
Photo: Detroit Free Press
6. Correct Tire Pressure
If needed, adjust the tires to the proper pressure. This allows the vehicle to operate optimally and therefore, more efficiently.
7. Turn Off Heater When Charging
If you're inside the vehicle while it charges, try not to turn on the heater, or do so minimally until charging is complete.
Bonus: Warm Up Battery Prior to Driving
Certain EVs. like the Ford F-150 Lightning allows you to use the vehicle's mobile application to prepare the car for your cold weather commute by warming up the battery prior to driving away. This allows for the battery pack to work at its correct operating temperature for the duration of the drive, which yields more efficiency.
>>Join the conversation about these winter EV tips right here in the forum.
For help with your maintenance and repair projects, please visit our how-to section of Ford-trucks.com.
