A new study shows that more than half of electric car owners make the same mistake in their cars, even when the weather is cold.
A new study has revealed a surprisingly large lack of knowledge among electric car owners, at least when it comes to their own cars.
This is about preheating the battery. A feature that can have a significant impact on charging time in cold weather. According to the study, only 44 percent of electric cars use this feature. Another 16 percent don't even know that their cars can preheat the battery.
The winter cold has a significant impact on the batteries of electric cars. The range is reduced and the battery does not deliver energy optimally as in warmer temperatures.
The operating temperature of electric car batteries should be between 20-40 degrees Celsius. At lower temperatures, the electrochemical process in the battery slows down and the internal resistance increases.
A test from the German answer to FDM, ADAC, shows that several electric cars lose more than 50 percent range at just 0 degrees. Read more about it here.
Charging is also affected and slower in cold weather. Most modern electric cars have a feature that tries to compensate for lower temperatures.
The battery can be preheated. Many electric car owners just don't realize it.
Preheating the battery increases its temperature, which speeds up charging. The feature is easily activated with the push of a button on most models.
In some electric cars, it is activated when you set the navigation system to a fast charger. In others, however, the driver has to find the button themselves. And it can be difficult if you don't know it's there.
– Our tests show that by preheating the battery in winter, you can get close to a fast charge like in summer, even at -20 degrees Celsius.
This can quickly mean halving the charging time compared to an ice-cold battery, says Ståle Frydenlund from the Electric Vehicle Association to Norwegian TV2 .
On the coldest days, it can take up to an hour to preheat the battery to an optimal temperature. Even shorter warm-up times will result in a faster charging speed. It is important to remember that the feature uses additional power.
If your electric car does not have this feature, there are other methods to ensure fast charging. If possible, park your car in a garage or indoors so that it is not exposed to the cold. It is also advantageous to charge your car immediately after driving, as the battery is still warm. It is better to charge en route or upon arrival than to wait until the next day.
Electric car owners should therefore investigate whether their electric car has a preheating function and learn how it works.
