Driving an EV in the Winter

The power of your EV comes mainly from the lithium-ion battery, and typically your battery will work best when it's between 60 and 80 degrees outdoors. When the temperatures fall below 40 degrees, the chemical reactions that generate all the electrons in your battery will begin to slow down, resulting in less current being produced. Many EVs will counteract this issue through a. battery thermal management system that is used to warm up the battery. Unlike a standard gasoline-powered engine that will generate its own heat, your EV will take the energy from the battery to create a ton of heat. This means there will be less power could be available to get the wheels to turn.

There are several EV models that have been created in the last couple of years have an estimated range between 200 and 300 miles. Normally the winter temperatures will reduce the range of your electric vehicle by up to 12%, so be sure to follow a few simple steps so that you can get between 170 and 260 miles out of your EV. One such tip is to make sure to check your tire pressure, as your tires will start to lose air as the temperature falls, which will lead to greater rolling resistance and some reduced mileage range. Be sure to periodically check your tire pressure every month, as it can save you around 13% in range.

Most electric vehicles come with a pre-timed heating system programmed to turn on when your battery is still charging before you start your journey. This will warm your battery to provide you with optimal performance, a process known in the EV community as preconditioning. It will also make your cabin nice and warm, so you don't need to put your heat on full blast while driving an EV as long as you are preconditioned before you start driving. Preconditioning will also give you between 10 and 15 percent more range. Finally, make sure your vehicle is plugged into a Level 2 power source, as this will provide you with a little more power!

As it gets freezing outside, one factor that affects your EVs range is how you drive your vehicle. If you are pressing down hard on the accelerator and the brakes while driving at high speeds, your driving range and battery life will be affected. For those who tend to drive a little more conservatively, you will get a better battery life and range that will help keep you and your family safe on icy and slippery roads. When you need to brake, avoid harsher braking as you allow your EV to regenerate via your braking system so your vehicle will recover energy and store it back into your battery more efficiently. The final thing that you need to keep in mind is your regenerative braking system will be less effective as the temperatures drop, as cold batteries can take as much as warm ones can!

Every EV that you drive will have a different function for the Eco Mode, but it usually will be used to reduce power consumption and increase mileage by reducing the energy supply to the drive motor and other high-energy consumption features such as cabin heaters. Eco modes will give you the ability to make your vehicle safer to drive in the winter as well. When power is reduced to the motor, your EV will accelerate a little slower, so you are less likely to spin out on the snow and ice-covered roads.

There are many reasons to pick up an electric vehicle like the Jeep Wrangler 4xe or the Grand Cherokee 4xe, and perhaps the most notable is that you will make fewer trips to the gas station and have a more efficient performance. Here at St Clair Chrysler Jeep Dodge RAM, we have a wide range of EV vehicles that are ready for you to test drive. So whether you are looking for an off-road vehicle like the Wrangler 4xe or a powerful vehicle like the Grand Cherokee 4xe, you know you will find what you need here at St Clair Chrysler Jeep Dodge RAM! Be sure to schedule a test drive of any EV vehicles on our lot, and if you find something you like, our finance team will take it from there. You can also view our complete EV inventory here on our website!