Guide and tips
Even in frost, snow and traffic jams, the electric car remains a comfortable companion. With clever heating strategies and an anticipatory driving style, you can get the best out of your battery even in sub-zero temperatures.
Electric cars have a parking heater as standard and can be preheated. The heating is electric and not based on the waste heat from a combustion engine. In electric cars, the warm air comes out of the fan without a warm-up phase. This also means that there is often no need to scrape ice. If the vehicle is connected to a charging point, the power for pre-heating is taken directly from the mains and not from the battery.
Saving energy is important, but must never be at the expense of safety. For example, the windows must always be free of ice while driving and allow unrestricted visibility. To minimise energy consumption, you should use a commercially available ice scraper instead of using the heat output of the heater.
Many electric cars today have an eco mode. This is there to save energy. How does it work? In this mode, the motor transfers less power to the wheels, which in turn has a positive effect on the range in winter.
Sporty driving styles consume more energy and are out of place in winter anyway - for both the combustion engine and the electric car. A relaxed, unagitated and anticipatory driving style conserves capacity.
The fear that an electric car will break down in winter if you get caught in a traffic jam is largely unfounded. Even in the cold season, electric cars can withstand several hours in traffic jams. If you are still unsure, you should follow a few tips to save electricity in traffic jams.
You don't have to do without heating in an electric car in winter. However, to make good use of energy, you should use the seat and steering wheel heating and leave the classic heating on the left or at least set it to a lower level.
To preheat the car, it is essential to use the preheating function when it is connected to the power supply and not just after driving off. This option saves energy, as the heating energy does not come from the traction battery in this case. The preheating option can be selected in the vehicle settings. However, apps are now also available that allow you to simply preheat the car remotely while you are still having breakfast.
Not only does the capacity of the battery suffer, the cold also affects the charging process. If the battery is neither warm nor heated during the charging process because the vehicle is parked outside even in icy temperatures, the charging time is extended. The ideal parking space for an electric vehicle is therefore in a garage with an installed wallbox.
Batteries are susceptible to the cold, but manufacturers have taken this into account and fitted the batteries with insulation. This prevents the battery from overcooling in winter if the electric car is parked outside in winter. Charging stations are also well equipped for the cold season: They automatically react to the strain on the battery caused by the cold by reducing the amount of electricity. This protects the battery.