In September 2022 alone, according to the Federal Motor Transport Authority, almost 20 percent of new registrations (44,389 vehicles) were battery electric passenger vehicles (BEV). Many electric car drivers are therefore facing the first winter with their vehicle. The question of how to drive the Stromer safely and efficiently through the winter plays a particularly important role for them. Because an electrically powered car with a large battery to store energy behaves differently in the cold than a car with a combustion engine.
“Basically, battery-electric passenger cars are just as suitable for safe and efficient operation in winter as vehicles with combustion engines or hybrid drives,” says Marco Oehler, Technical Manager at the GTÜ Society for Technical Monitoring. “This is ensured by the strict rules for the market approval of new vehicle types.” But there are differences between combustion engines and electric cars when it comes to use. But how does a purely electric car differ from vehicles with other drive technologies in winter? Profi Oehler gives five tips:
First: Don’t be afraid of winter. The range of modern e-cars is sufficient for everyday use even in cold temperatures. And even in traffic jams on the motorway, you don’t have to do without the heating. It is important to familiarize yourself with the technical properties. Because the performance of the battery actually decreases when it’s cold – because the energy storage unit feels most comfortable at temperatures between 15 and 35 degrees Celsius. This becomes particularly clear with a lot of short-distance traffic when the battery cools down once more and once more between trips. At the same time, the energy requirement increases in winter due to the heating of the interior and the battery.
Second: Use the many possibilities of the electric car to optimize energy efficiency in winter. This ranges from preheating at the charging station to driving in Eco mode to using seat and steering wheel heating instead of the interior heating. But the warm air is also produced very efficiently and, above all, quickly – for example, fogged up windows can be warmed up in a flash. If you set the ventilation to recirculation, you also make particularly good use of the heat.
Third: garage available? Then the e-car should be parked in it, especially in winter. Because the temperature drops less quickly there than outdoors. It also has a positive effect if the wall box is installed in the garage. The battery can then be charged at optimal temperatures, which can noticeably shorten the charging process. Because in very cold temperatures, the on-board electronics usually prevent fast charging at the beginning so as not to put too much strain on the cooled battery.
Fourth: When buying an electric vehicle, pay attention to the appropriate equipment for efficient winter operation. Many drivers value a heat pump for vehicle temperature management. But details such as steering wheel heating are not only comfortable, but can also pay off in the long run in terms of efficiency.
Fifth: Never lose sight of one thing: The electric car is a passenger car like any other. Therefore, the same safety rules apply in winter. A functioning lighting system and suitable tires with sufficient profile are just as important as good visibility all around through ice-free windows. (awm)
