Tips for Charging an Electric Vehicle in Winter

Electric vehicle (EV) owners should know that winter is neither a problem nor an impediment to a good driving experience, even in the coldest areas.

On the contrary: EVs will run in colder conditions than a diesel fueled vehicle. (EVs can run in temperatures as cold as 40 below zero Fahrenheit while diesel vehicles run into problems in temperatures of 13 below.)  

But of course, there are some important points that an EV driver should care about in winter.

The basic problem with the cold

Cold increases the resistance of the battery cells; voltage and capacity decrease. This also slows down the electrochemical process – the charging process. In addition, the wear of the cells is higher in the cold.

For this reason, manufacturers reduce the charging speed at sub-zero temperatures in order to protect the battery. They also mitigate the cold effect by using a battery management system that keeps the battery in an ideal temperature range – even at night when the car is not in use. You must also bear in mind that in cold temperatures, consumption increases due to running the heater and the range of the vehicle decreases accordingly. 

For the driver, this means: less range in general, more energy loss when stationary and the charging process is usually slower – at least until the battery has reached the right temperature. Some vehicles display "missing energy" for the journey. Tesla, for example, shows the energy range in blue that cannot be used for driving at that time. 

So, what should EV drivers consider in winter? Here are a few tips from the folks at Juice Americas:

• Plan your route precisely and include charging stops accordingly. Before the EV simply stops, there are sufficient warnings and the maximum speed is restricted, but it is definitely more pleasant to plan ahead – including the charging stops.
• Pre-condition the battery before charging at high speed/Level 3/DC charging stations (ex. Electrify America, Tesla Supercharger), if the vehicle offers this function. So far, only Tesla, Porsche (with the Taycan) and Daimler with the EQ series allow preheating of the batteries before DC charging. On these vehicles, when you enter the DC charging station as the charging destination, the battery is preheated in time so that charging can take place at maximum speed.
• Use the seat heater while driving. It’s a simple but effective way to keep warm and it uses less battery than the AC/heating function.  

• Upon arrival: charging is best when the battery is warm; it does not take so much time to charge at full power.
• Charge the vehicle overnight with AC power while it is stationary. This allows you to charge with cheaper electricity and reduce range loss overnight.
• If you have no charging option overnight, keep the range loss in mind (try to keep the EV battery warm if possible).
• Before departure: preheat the vehicle while it is still connected to the charging station, because then it draws the energy directly from the grid via the station and not from the battery.
• Plan the departure time: then the car will be fully charged when you leave. Important: only if there is no load management and the electricity available for charging remains the same.

When preparing for winter EV charging, it's essential to consider backup charging options for added convenience. What are portable EV chargers? These compact devices allow drivers to charge their vehicles anywhere with access to a standard power outlet, making them especially useful during cold weather when public charging stations may be limited or less efficient. Investing in a portable EV charger ensures you have a reliable charging solution, reducing the risk of being stranded in freezing conditions.