How Do Electric Cars Handle In Snow?
So you’ve bought your electric car. The summer sun is shining, and it handles like a dream – smooth steering and easy recharge points that will help you lower your overall fuel costs and make your vehicle completely energy efficient.
However, now the winter is setting in, and you might worry about how your car will handle it.
Luckily, these vehicles are designed to survive in all types of weather, so you won’t have to worry about your car’s interior getting colder or the tires skidding about on the tarmac.
An electric car is usually at an advantage when you are out in the cold and snow. One of the main reasons for this is that your vehicle will use regenerative braking, which means you can decelerate without putting any pressure on the brakes.
An electric car also has compact eco tires, which will help to navigate icy ground.
- How exactly can you keep your electric car running through the winter?
- How do they handle the snow?
- What will the cold weather do to the tires and the engine?
- How well do the brakes operate in your electric car?
- How does the snow affect the range of your vehicle?
- Will the charging times be affected by the cold weather?
If you want answers to your car-related questions and a lot more, then keep reading.
We have an article on how your electric vehicle is affected by cold weather. You’ll be able to see whether your car is affected by the cold and which malfunctions you can be expected to find.
How Does An Electric Car Handle In The Snow?
The short answer to this question is: surprisingly well. Electric vehicles come with unique handling, a gearless operation, and an ultra-smooth motor that will likely stop your car from skidding left and right on the road while driving.
There are many elements of the electric car that will guarantee you smooth running and a relatively safe drive in snowy conditions. Here we’re going to look at some internal and external components. And how they are affected by the cold weather.
The Tyres
The electric car usually has thinner tires that allow you to negotiate the slippery and icy conditions much more easily. Having a narrower tire will also reduce the surface area on which to slip, giving you much better handling over the car’s movement.
The electric motor has incredible dynamics to lower the wheel spin you can sometimes get on icy surfaces.
Once you have released the handbrake, you can expect the wheels to pull away elegantly and smoothly, giving you everything you need for a confident pull away.
The Engine
The engine on an electric car will keep the balance of your machine consistent throughout the driving stage. However, the batteries in your vehicle will not power your car as efficiently as they would in normal temperatures, so you might find yourself struggling with getting the higher speeds that you can typically get on the road.
The Fuel
Since this car requires no fuel in the traditional sense, you won’t have to worry about any oil freezes or failure for your ignition to work.
The electric battery in your car will undoubtedly be affected by the drop in temperature, as the transfer of electricity through the body of your vehicle will not be as quick.
The Brakes
Because of the regenerative braking function, you can look forward to much higher control over your vehicle. This means that the car will slow down without requiring you to use the brake. This is very important when maintaining control over your vehicle, as it will avoid the necessity of any sudden stops.
The brakes on an electric car will also have a lot less wear and tear than regular brakes, as they will be used far less, which means that most of the internal components of your electric car will be a lot more functional than they would generally be.
How Is The Range Affected By The Snow?
The range of your electric car will undoubtedly be affected by the snow because of the diminished efficiency of the battery in the cold weather.
By having less range of motion on your vehicle, you can expect a lot less slipping and sliding, giving you much more control over your car.
How Does The Car Keep Warm?
Luckily, many electric cars come with a pre-warming function that will help your car stay on course during icy conditions. In addition, you can have powerful internal heaters in your car, which will be very important when you are out and about in the cold.
However, one of the downsides is that these heaters are the most significant drain on your electric car’s battery. Therefore, if you have these on, we recommend doing it in short bursts so your battery can be sustained.
How Are The Charging Times Affected?
When your batteries are cold, they’ll take much longer to recharge. This is much like a regular car because the battery will sometimes take a while to warm up in the cold weather.
For this reason, many electric car owners take as many opportunities as they can to charge their cars during the colder months. Keeping your battery warm for longer will guarantee a much more efficient charge and more prolonged driving through snow and ice.
Since charging efficiency is the name of the game during the winter months, it’s worth investing in a top-quality EV home charging station and potentially considering a portable charger to be prepared for any scenario.
