An electric car expert has shared a key tip on how to extend your battery's lifespan in cold weather. Dave Baranauska (Dave B Sells Chevy on YouTube) has provided owners with advice on driving an electric car in the winter.
As the temperatures drop, you will get less range out of your electric vehicle (EV). Dave said that, on average, he tends to lose about 30 to 40 miles of range: “So, if the car gets normally about 310 when it's 30 degrees or less, when I fully charge it, I might see 290, 280, 270.” Cold weather reduces battery performance by slowing the chemical reactions inside, lowering power output and making it harder to start engines; this effect is compounded by increased demand from accessories like heaters. To prevent your battery from dying quickly, Dave recommends keeping your vehicle plugged in. Most EV owners charge their car either at home or at work. If the vehicle is plugged in overnight, it can utilise the grid to maintain the battery at an optimal temperature. This will enhance the battery's efficiency when you actually start driving in cold weather.
As a further step, Dave recommends remotely starting your vehicle while it is still plugged in. This will prepare the cabin for temperature - turn on heated seats, heated wheel, etc.
This way, the cabin becomes nice and comfortable, and while it's heating up, it's actually pulling energy from the grid, not from the car's battery.
Dave’s other tips for prolonging battery life in cold weather concern technique: “When you're driving an electric vehicle, your technique of how you drive is one of the main contributors to the range you get out of the car.”
The first is one-pedal driving. This allows you to control acceleration and deceleration (even to a full stop) using only the accelerator pedal, thanks to strong regenerative braking.
This makes city driving smoother, extends range by recharging the battery, and reduces brake wear. When you lift your foot, the motor acts as a generator, slowing the car and sending energy back to the battery, offering convenience and efficiency.
Dave also said to “keep an eye on your speed”, encouraging EV drivers to slow down and try not to change speeds a lot. He recommended using cruise control to maintain consistency, as this helps with battery life.
