Evs and different weather conditions

Is there anything more British than complaining about the weather? Probably not, other than talking about how rain automatically means more traffic jams. 

But the question is: will the weather affect your EV? And the answer? Well, it’s in this blog. We answer some of the most common questions about weather and EVs.

In short, yes and no. As with any car in slicker conditions, you’ll have to take it steady when driving in the rain. However, when it comes to charging your EV in the rain, it shouldn’t differ from charging it in any other weather.

It may seem a bit backwards when you’ve been taught for so long that you can’t take electricity anywhere near water. However, if you think of the tech that makes phones waterproof, it seems a bit more believable that you can drive and charge an EV in the rain.

Yes, hot weather can affect your EV, but no more than the heat can make us a little grumpy.

In the heat, charging might be slower so the battery doesn’t overheat. And if you’re basting out the air con, your range might be a bit lower as you use the energy to keep cool. However, most manufacturers have considered this, and the latest EVs have fancy cooling systems and some pre-conditioning features - so unless you’re driving around in 40°C heat, all day, every day, your EV shouldn’t be affected too much.

As with fuel cars, cold weather will always affect the efficiency of an EV. Batteries tend to operate less efficiently in the cold, so range can be reduced anywhere between 5% and 20% for EVs (but it’s 15% to 25% for fuel-powered cars).

EV batteries lose range in the winter because the battery has to work harder when it’s chilly outside. We also tend to ramp up the heating, so the battery is being used more.

However, bar having to maybe charge more frequently in winter months, the cold weather shouldn’t really affect your EV any more than it would affect a fuel-powered car.

Driving in winter and cold weather for the first time may seem daunting, so to help, we’ve put together some tips for EV winter driving.

Sometimes, yes. But not by much. Because your battery is working less effectively in the colder weather, it might take a little longer to charge. If you use a rapid EV charger, and it usually takes 30 minutes, it could take 40 minutes - but that’s a handy excuse to find the nearest coffee shop and treat yourself to a winter warmer.

Yes, but you’ll need to take extra care. When the ground is slippery, such as when driving in snow or ice, take more time when turning, accelerating, or braking. With EVs you have instant power, and though this can be a good thing, when it’s slippery you’ll want to take your time.

Try and use regenerative braking as much as possible, as this won’t lock the wheels. You might want to look at some winter tyres too.