Experts offer tips to protect electric vehicles in cold weather

By Jazmine Knight

With President Joe Biden’s goal to have 50% of all new vehicle sales be electric cars, the push for electric continues to increase. However, fluctuating temperatures in the Midwest can dramatically impact their performance.

Based on a 2019 study conducted by AAA, results showed that when the temperature dropped below 20 degrees, the driving range of electric vehicles decreased by about 41%. This is in comparison to only a 12% decrease when temperatures are above 75.

“Typical vehicles lose about a third of their power when it gets cold out. You know, so EVs are really no different,” said Nick Chabarria, the public affairs specialist for AAA. “And it can be an issue if drivers are unaware that their electric vehicle is not going to be able to travel as far or may take longer to charge when the temperatures get cold.”

The biggest energy user when driving an electric vehicle is the interior heat, which presents a challenge in cold weather.

“The difference with the heating component (in an electric vehicle) compared to an internal combustion engine is when you know someone has a gas-powered vehicle and they drive their car, the car will actually use heat generated by the engine to warm the interior of the vehicle,” Chabarria said. “(Electric vehicles), they don’t have an engine. So essentially you’re running a space heater inside your vehicle. And that’s a huge draw of power.”

To combat this, he advises users to let the car warm up while it is still connected to the charger. If possible, try using the remote start feature to reduce the use of heat while driving. Also, parking and charging inside a garage at night can help regulate the temperature of a vehicle.

Taylor Amos, sales guide at Anderson Kia, also offered tips to save the car’s energy.

“Trying to limit how much of what you use, so instead of putting the heat on full blast, try using your heated seat warmers,” Amos said. “Those are going to use less power than using your electric heater in the vehicle.”

Nowadays many popular car brands have adopted at least one electric vehicle in their lineup. Kia has launched three models: the Niro, EV6 and EV9.

“Most of our EVs are also all-wheel drive. so most of them are all-wheel drive and they actually weigh more than your typical vehicle because those batteries are pretty heavy,” Amos said. “So it actually helps you with getting more traction because the vehicle has a lower center of gravity, it’s heavier, it’s going to stay planted a little better.”

Ultimately, it is up to each individual driver to decide what’s best for them. It’s important to conduct thorough research before choosing a vehicle.