Light Hearted

The past couple of weeks have been brutally cold, the kind of cold that makes you rethink all of your life choices—including driving an EV in winter. It’s no secret that EV batteries don’t exactly thrive in freezing temperatures. The moment the thermometer dips below 32°F, it’s as if my car starts looking at me like, “Are we really doing this?”

Last week, I had to drive to Ann Arbor to drop off some groceries for my son. Simple enough, right? Wrong. The entire drive turned into a suspense thriller, starring me, my EV, and the car dashboard. I was glued to that battery indicator, calculating whether I’d have enough charge to make it back home without an unexpected pit stop. The last thing I wanted was to end up sitting at a charging station for an hour in freezing temperatures, watching the battery creep up like a turtle on a treadmill.

It’s not like a gas car where you can simply pull into any station, fill up in five minutes, and be on your way. EVs, as fantastic as they are, come with their own set of rules. One of the golden rules? Keep your battery charged to a max of 80% for longer battery life. That’s all well and good until you factor in the cold, which can drain battery power at twice the usual rate.

For my daily commute, this isn’t much of an issue. But longer drives? Those need planning. Careful planning. The kind where you check your route, note the charging stations, and pray the car doesn’t decide to have an existential crisis halfway through the trip.

So, what can an EV driver do to survive winter? Here are a few lessons I’ve learned:

1. Precondition Your Battery: If your car has this feature, use it! Warming up the battery before driving helps maintain efficiency.
2. Use Seat Warmers Instead of Cabin Heat: Heating the entire cabin drains the battery fast. The seat warmers provide targeted warmth without the energy hit.
3. Plan Charging Stops in Advance: Don’t rely on “I’ll figure it out when I get there”—you might not get there.
4. Keep an Emergency Kit: A blanket, extra gloves, and a portable phone charger are essential if you ever get stranded.
5. Drive Conservatively: Rapid acceleration is fun, but in the cold, it can quickly zap your range. Smooth and steady wins the range game.

Despite the caveats, I still love my EV. The quiet ride, the instant torque, the savings on gas—it’s all worth it. But winter has a way of reminding you that battery technology, while impressive, still has some catching up to do. Until then, I’ll keep my trips short, my gloves handy, and my charging stops strategic. And maybe, just maybe, consider installing a heated garage.