Driving Electric Cars in Winter
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Driving Electric Cars in Winter
As the popularity and influence of electric vehicles continues to rise, it’s important to understand how electric car technology
operates in different conditions and weather types. Winter driving is a reality for all drivers, including electric car
owners. Therefore, being aware of how cold weather can impact EV efficiency is important for all electric car drivers.
In this article, we explore everything you need to know about winter driving, including electric car range in winter and more general winter driving tips, so you can get the most out of your EV all year round.
How does cold weather affect electric car batteries?
It’s well known that electric cars
can be less efficient during winter, as cold weather has an impact on the battery. In cold temperatures, the chemical reactions that take place inside a battery to store and release electricity occur much slower. As these processes slow down, battery capacity and output can be reduced.
The direct impact of this is that the electric range of EVs can be reduced in winter months. This doesn’t have any lasting impact on your EV battery
performance; once the temperatures warm up again, full battery capacity will be restored, as will your electric range.
While electric cars may suffer a direct and salient impact on their range in winter, anything that uses a battery will experience the same drop in efficiency in cold weather, including petrol and diesel cars. Cold temperatures will cause their overall efficiency to drop, making for a poorer fuel economy.
Winter driving safety in electric cars
Like drivers of any vehicle, EV drivers often have to adjust their driving practices when driving in winter. The best way to ensure winter driving safety in electric cars is to be aware of how cold temperatures can affect the technologies unique to EVs.
Here are our winter driving tips for maximising and conserving your electric car’s range, as well as general advice on driving safely in winter conditions:
• Pre-heat your car – In electric cars, heaters work by taking energy from the EV battery, reducing overall battery output. Some electric cars,
like all Kia EVs, are fitted with a climate control system, which enables you to preheat the car to a desired temperature before you set off. If you have this running while your EV is charging, none of the precious battery energy will be wasted on heating the car.
• Conserve electric range – You can conserve electric range simply by driving in a more efficient way. Maintaining a steady pace and avoiding sudden braking or accelerating will help to maximize your EV’s range.
• Route plan – If you’re planning a long journey, take this into account and plan accordingly, such as by adding extra charging stops or reducing the distance you intend to travel.
• Cover the car – Keeping your EV battery warm will limit the impact of cold weather on the car battery. Putting a cover over your car or keeping it in an inside space, such as a garage, can help to keep the battery as warm as possible.
• Maintain stopping distances – Because electric cars
are heavier than ICE cars, they tend to have a lower centre of gravity, which improves their traction with the road surface. As a result, EVs tend to be better equipped for driving through snow and ice. However, it’s always important to follow guidelines for winter driving, such as maintaining stopping distances and avoiding travelling at high speeds.
• Equip yourself with the right gear – If you’re travelling somewhere where extremely cold temperatures (below 7 degrees), it may be a good idea to invest in winter tyres. These are designed to provide optimum grip and maintain contact with the ground in slippery conditions.
Aside from reduced battery efficiency and range, electric cars
are well-equipped to cope with and perform well in cold temperatures.
Expert winter driving with Kia
As leaders in electrification, at Kia, we understand how cold weather can impact the unique ways electric cars operate. Therefore, all our EVs
are equipped with specialised features, systems and technologies engineered to ensure our electric cars work seamlessly throughout the year. When it comes to winter driving, we prioritise comfort, safety and reliable performance.
As part of our on-board Kia Connect
services, all our EVs are fitted with a pioneering climate control system, that enables you to adjust and pre-set the cabin temperature to suit your needs. When you download the Kia Connect App,
you can schedule temperatures remotely from your phone, so you can guarantee comfortable driving no matter how chilly it is outside. If you do this while charging, you can ensure no energy is wasted on heating the vehicle, maximising your range.
Kia Connect also enables you to easily find public EV charging stations
along your route and schedule charging breaks. With our extensive charging network of over 30,000 stations in the UK, you can easily plan your route and charging stops even with your reduced electric range in winter. Additionally, all our EVs feature heated rear and front seats, a heated steering wheel and an automatic defog system for elevated comfort and convenience.
Discover all these features and more when you explore our exciting range of electric cars.
Images shown are for illustration purposes only and may not be to full UK specification. Features shown are not standard across the Kia model range and availability will vary dependant on model. For further details please refer to the individual model specification sheets.