Driving an electric car in winter: What to look out for when charging?

The winter months require special attention when using an electric car. Cold weather not only reduces range, but also affects the charging process. Here are some tips on how to use your EV wisely in the winter.

1. Battery sensitivity:
 EV batteries are sensitive to cold. At low temperatures, chemical reactions slow down, resulting in slower charging and reduced range. This is especially noticeable if the car has been sitting in the cold overnight.

2. Warm up the car:
 Most EVs have a preheating function. It is worth warming up the cabin and battery while charging (when it is drawing power from the charger) so that energy is not wasted on range.

3. Charge overnight, but don't let it drain completely:
 It is not advisable to drain the battery to 0% in winter, as the cold makes it more difficult to recharge. Ideally, you should always keep the charge level between 20–80%.

4. Expect slower charging:
 Charging speeds can slow down in the winter, especially when the battery is cold. DC flash chargers also throttle down power for protection.

5. Reduce consumption:
 Use heated seats or a heated steering wheel instead of air conditioning to reduce your range.