Your Guide to Electric Vehicles in Winter

Drive Electric Vermont Ford Fusion snowy road

We’re big electric vehicle (EV) advocates, but we’re also Vermonters who understand how tricky winter driving can be. It’s important to understand how cold temperatures may impact your vehicle, especially if it’s electric. Below, you’ll find advice on how to pick the right EV for your needs, tips to improve cold weather range, and best practices for winter charging so you can enjoy all the benefits of electric driving – even in Vermont winters.

Cold weather makes all vehicles less efficient, not just EVs. But cold weather range is especially important for EV drivers to consider. According to FuelEconomy.gov, gas vehicles typically become 20% less efficient at 20° F, while electric vehicles may lose up to 50% of their range in the coldest conditions. Automakers continue to develop new batteries and systems to help reduce the impact of cold weather, so we can expect these range reductions to go down over time.

The biggest cause of lower EV range in the winter is usually running the heat. Lithium-ion batteries (which power many EVs) also don’t perform as well in cold temperatures, which can lead to more range reductions.

The fleet team at Geotab analyzed thousands of EVs in varying conditions to track EV range reductions in the cold. They found that drivers of an average EV might see about half of the manufacturer’s official range when temperatures drop to -4° F. However, this can vary significantly depending on the model, model options, and how the vehicle is stored and operated. The chart below illustrates the average EV range reduction (or increase) relative to the manufacturer's official stated range across different temperatures.

Driving range tips

No matter what model EV you drive, there are ways to boost your driving range in lower temperatures. Here are our top six tips.

  1. Preheat your car: If you warm up your car while it’s still plugged in, you’ll leave more energy in the battery for your drive. Preheating also makes it easier to remove snow and ice from your car. Plus, it makes the start of your drive more comfortable. Most EVs pair with smartphone apps or key fobs, so you can even warm up your car without trekking into the cold.
  2. Schedule your departure time: Many EV models let you schedule your charging session so it’s finished just before you need to leave the house. This is a great way to warm up your battery a bit so you’re ready to go.
  3. Use heated surfaces: If your EV has heated seats or steering wheels, use those features to warm up instead of cranking up the cabin heat. They’re usually much more efficient than heating, even if your EV has a heat pump. Drivers without these features can use jackets or a lap blanket to save energy on longer trips.
  4. Check your tire pressure: Cold temperatures can often reduce tire pressure, which can cause your EV to use more energy. You can find your recommended tire pressure on a sticker on the inside of the driver’s door.
  5. Reduce your speed: By slowing down just 5 to 10 mph, you can gain an additional 10% to 20% of driving range, depending on your car model and the driving conditions.
  6. Turn on eco mode: Some EVs have “eco” or economy modes that increase battery efficiency. If your vehicle doesn’t have this feature, you can still save energy by following basic eco driving principles like braking and accelerating slowly, easing off the accelerator going downhill, and anticipating stoplights. This will help put energy back into the regenerative braking system instead. You can also increase your vehicle efficiency by removing heavy objects, roof racks, or snow when possible.

Pick the right EV for you

Better winter driving starts with picking the right EV for your needs. Most new all-electric models get more than 200 miles of range per charge, which is plenty for the average Vermont driver even with reduced winter range. However, some older or used EV models may get less than 100 miles of range per charge.

If you have a long commute or like to road trip in the winter, we recommend longer-range all-electric models or plug-in hybrids that can run on gasoline for extended range. If you’re considering all-electric vehicles, DC Fast Charging networks and navigation systems can simplify route planning.

Cold-weather features

No matter which EV or plug-in hybrid you choose, these features can help in the winter.

  • Heated seats & steering: Heated seats and steering wheels are much more efficient heat sources than cabin heat, so using them can help extend your vehicle’s range during the winter. And who doesn’t love the extra comfort?
  • Heated battery packs: These heaters help keep your vehicle’s battery pack at the right temperature, which is especially helpful for DC Fast Charging stops.
  • Heat pumps: These heating systems can significantly improve cabin heating efficiency so you can keep toasty without draining your battery.

Traction and clearance

Just like gas vehicles, EV reliability in the winter depends on the model. There are a growing number of EV options on the market with higher clearance or all-wheel drive to help you drive with confidence if you live in a snowbelt or travel on rough roads. To see what models are available with all-wheel drive, just use our vehicle comparison tool.

For added traction, you can also equip any EV for winter driving by using snow tires. Even vehicles with front wheel drive do just fine in most Northeast driving conditions when they’re paired with winter tires. Studies have shown using winter tires is the single most important choice you can make for safe winter driving. In most cases, switching your tires won’t have a significant impact on EV range.

Additional safety tips

Still worried about winter safety? Here are a few other ideas to think about:

  • Look for vehicles with EV batteries underneath the vehicle. This extra weight helps keep your wheels on the road.
  • Research rear wheel drive (RWD) systems. These systems may be less predictable in winter road conditions, but many EV owners have reported that traction control systems and winter tires help RWD systems work in Vermont. We recommend researching specific RWD models to make sure they’ll meet your needs.
  • Check your vehicle owner’s manual for guidance. Some EV models recommend limiting the use of regenerative braking systems when roads are snowy or icy.
  • Consider installing a “lift kit.” If you love a lower-riding EV but need to drive in deep snowy conditions from time to time, check with your dealer to see if a “lift kit” is an option for your model. These kits can boost the standard suspension further off the ground to give you extra clearance.

Charging in winter

There’s good news and bad news. The bad news is that all three types of charging – Level 1, Level 2, and DC Fast Charging – require more time in cold winter conditions. This is especially true of DC Fast Charging, so be sure to leave extra time for charging on longer drives.

The good news? There’s plenty you can do to speed up the charging process and protect your battery. Here are a few things our team recommends.

  • Keep your EV in the garage or carport. If you don’t have one, consider using a car cover to protect your vehicle or parking in a sunny spot to capture natural heat whenever possible.
  • Keep your EV plugged in overnight during cold spells. Some EVs have battery heaters that turn on when temperatures drop below 0° F to prevent damage. Check your owner’s manual to see if this applies to your vehicle.
  • Consider upgrading to a Level 2 charger. Switching from a Level 1 charger can help speed up the charging process and allow you to preheat your vehicle when plugged in to preserve driving range.
  • Use a preconditioning system. Some EVs like Tesla have systems that warm up your vehicle’s battery when you approach a DC Fast Charging stop.

Additional resources

For more tips, reports, or information about specific models, check out some of the links below.

 

More about heat pumps

Select a manufacturer to learn more

  • Audi e-tron includes a heat pump as standard equipment, but also offers a cold weather package with heated rear seats and a higher-powered system for preheating while still plugged in. The Audi Q4 e-tron does not have a heat pump available in US models, although it is available as an option in Europe; the Q4 comes with heated front seats as standard equipment, but a heated steering wheel is optional equipment.

  • BMW i4 and iX vehicles come with a heat pump system as standard equipment; heated seats and steering wheel are available as options. The BMW i3 (available used) has an optional heat pump on the all-electric model.

  • Chevrolet Bolt and Bolt EUV use a resistance heating system - a heat pump option is not available. The base LT trim has an optional “Comfort and Convenience” package that includes heated front seats and steering wheel. The Premier trim includes heated steering wheel, front and rear seats as standard.

  • Ford Mustang Mach-E and F-150 Lightning models do not have heat pump options. The Premium trim on the Mach-E includes heated front seats and steering wheel. The F-150 Lightning has standard heated front seats - heated side mirrors are included on the XLT trim and above, a heated steering wheel is available on the Lariat trim.

  • Hyundai Ioniq 5 has a heat pump and battery heater on US models equipped with all-wheel drive for 2022 and later model year vehicles. For 2023, the Ioniq 5 included the battery heater as standard equipment on all versions and a new battery preconditioning feature is enabled when a DC fast charger is set as the destination on the vehicle's navigation system. The Ioniq 6 has a heat pump and battery heating system standard on all but the base SE standard range trim for the 2023 model year. The older Ioniq Electric model (no longer available new) included a heat pump on the higher “Limited” trim level for the 2019 model year, but it was removed for the US market on the 2020 model year version; the base SE model does not have one. Hyundai Kona Electric vehicles do not offer a heat pump for USA models, although one does come as standard equipment in Canada; Kona Electric models have a battery heating system on model year 2020 and later vehicles on the Limited and Ultimate trims.

  • Jaguar I-Pace includes a heat pump as standard equipment. A cold weather package is also available with a heated windshield and steering wheel.

  • Kia EV6 has standard heated front seats; a heat pump is included on EV6 models equipped with all-wheel drive. The EV6 also has a winter mode that can be activated to warm the battery pack which will improve DC fast charging speed in cold weather. The Niro EV includes a heat pump in the Cold Weather Package, which also includes a heated steering wheel and battery heater.

  • Mini Cooper SE all-electric includes a heat pump as standard equipment on all models.

  • Nissan Ariya comes with a "hybrid heater" system that includes a heat pump as well as heated front seats and steering wheel as standard equipment. Some of the higher Ariya trimlines add heated rear seats and side mirrors. The Nissan LEAF currently comes in S and SV Plus trims - the more efficient “hybrid heater system” and heated front seats / steering wheel are only available on the LEAF SV Plus trim.

  • Polestar 2 includes heated front seats as standard equipment; the "Plus pack" option package includes a heat pump, heated steering wheel and heated rear seats.

  • Subaru Crosstrek plug-in hybrid includes a heat pump system according to the owner’s manual. The Solterra all-electric model has a heat pump as standard equipment. Heated front and rear seats and steering wheel are included on the Solterra Limited trim and above.

  • Tesla Model Y is offered with a heat pump. The Tesla Model 3 was updated in October 2020 to include a similar system. Tesla Model S and X vehicles include heat pump systems starting with vehicles produced in 2021; older model years have heating systems that recover waste heat from electronics to improve efficiency.

  • Toyota Prius Prime and RAV4 Prime plug-in hybrids and the bZ4X all-electric model come standard with heat pump systems. The bZ4X also includes heated front seats and steering wheel as optional on the base XLE package or standard on the Limited.  The Limited trim also has optional features for a front seat lower body radiant heating system and rear heated seats.

  • Volkswagen ID.4 does not have a heat pump on the US model (it is included in the Canadian version). The e-Golf included a heat pump on the higher SEL trim level. The baseline trim SE model did not have one.

  • Volvo XC40 Recharge all-electric has a climate package option that includes a heated steering wheel and rear seats (front seat heaters are standard); there is a separate heat pump option. The Volvo C40 has a heat pump, heated seats and heated steering wheel included as standard equipment. Volvo PHEV models may not offer heat pumps. Dealers should have additional information on heating system options.