How far can you drive with an electric vehicle in the winter
How far can you drive with an electric vehicle in the winter
Publié 4 novembre 2022
Canadian winters can be freezing cold, with temperatures hitting around 0° Celsius. Canada is also a place of heavy snowfall, commonly in November and December, so you always want to ensure your electric vehicle will give you the best range.
In the winter, we use more electricity to keep us warm, but what about your EV? According to the Norwegian Automobile Federation, an EV loses 20%, with an average loss range of 18.5% for most vehicles. These figures are not final, and some EVs lose only 7%.
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Battery technology has since drastically improved, giving more than double the range for electric vehicles over the past decade. In 2011, the average range of a vehicle was 138km with a maximum range of 151km, which has since changed in 2021 as we see an average range of 349km and a maximum range of 837km.
Range Available for most Ford Vehicles
Electric vehicle range varies a lot, depending on the battery size. Smaller battery cars usually have a smaller range compared to larger battery SUVs. The Mustang Mach-E has a targeted range of 439 km, while a Ford electric truck can travel up to 514km.
Does Range Loss Matter?
A 20% dip in battery range isn’t be anything to worry about. The trick is to ensure that your EV is charged before you leave your home or overnight to sustain your travel through the winter. Also, the availability of the supercharger network can help you through those winter days. We only noted that the smaller your battery is, the more likely you will be hit the most.
How to Get Better Winter Performance for Your EV?
To help you get through those winter days and nights and get the best performance out of your EV, we have put together a few tips to help you.
The number one solution is to ensure that you use your cabin's preconditioning system and charge it overnight. Pre-heating your EV is a great solution, as this will reduce range loss because the vehicle is plugged in and charging. Also, this ensures that the vehicle is already at the best temperature when you enter your cabin because the charge will come directly from the electricity grid.
Another aspect to note is that it's not always about the cabin, but while the car is connected to the charger, the energy is also used to warm up the battery making it more efficient when you start driving.
As a driver, you’re also encouraged to smooth out your driving in lower temperatures by avoiding stops and starts. This will assist in saving your battery’s energy and reduce your vehicle's energy consumption.