Most electrical vehicle (EV) buyers do not think about winter season. If you are in northern climates where temperatures are extreme, you should care your vehicle to do not trouble in the middle of the journey. In the winter seasons after charging your EV you can observe significant dip in range. The following tips will be helpful for you in the winter care of your EV.
- Jump-start: If you live in North Dakota, Minnesota or other northern state where the the winter is extremely cold, you may asked the help or other asked you for the car needed jump-start. Nearly all the hybrid vehicles still use a 12 volt conventional battery within the system, jumpstarting the hybrid vehicle to start its gasoline engine should be easy. Check your operator’s manual, but expect to follow same process like other car. If you are confused and not having any clarity, call a professional. Before you are going for poking under the hood read and follow the warnings and instructions printed on the vehicle’s parts.
- Monitor moving parts: The EV’s moving parts also effected by the cold temperatures. Tire inflation, wheel bearing and transmission are the major areas that you you need to pay some attention in winter season. The winter transmission lubricant is made in such a way that it does not get thick in cold temperatures, use it and keep transmission things properly moving. Lower temperatures cause to loss of pressure in tires, so regularly check the pressure of inflation.
- Keep it warm: Cold temperatures affect on battery’s ability and efficiency to give out the power and take charge. If temperatures fall below zero, the battery capacity of an electrical vehicle will reduce by 40 percent. The large battery banks cars are less affected compared to smaller batteries cars in the cold conditions.
Newer technology in the electrical vehicles such as thermal systems and lithium-ion batteries help address this challenge. But you need to keep battery from getting cold as outside temperatures will help with range and starting. In the night time, keep your EV in a garage, if you have a heated garage, it is the best to keep. If this is not available for you, try the following as per availability:
- Whenever possible park in the full Sun.
- Do not let your EV for days without using in the freezing weather.
- Keep the EV battery charged. It helps warm up.
- To keep the battery warm overnight, use a heating pad or heat tape or an electric blanket.
- If your batteries are not either thermal systems or lithium-ion batteries, insulate your batteries. Fiberglass batting or Styrofoam insulation will keep Your EV warmer.
Your driving habits will effect much on your EV battery. Those are like start and stop, acceleration, brakes usage, heater, etc. The other important one is aware of your surroundings in the regular journey and some tools to face winter and basic problems to repair, because it will be helpful in emergency.