DRIVING AN EV IN REALLY COLD CONDITIONS

The arrival of colder weather means fewer hours of daylight, plus the potential of snow and black ice on the roads. New EV drivers need to take particular care as their vehicles will respond differently under these conditions compared to petrol or diesel vehicle. There are also a few technical aspects to EVs that are affected by low temperatures and may impact their performance in cold weather.

To help you stay safe on the road and get the most out of your EV during the colder weather, here are four expert tips:



1. Turn off regenerative braking to avoid potentially dangerous slips

Single-pedal driving, or regenerative braking, is one of the great joys of driving an EV. However, during the cold winter months it's strongly advised that you turn regen braking to low or off completely.

In normal conditions, regen braking works by turning the kinetic energy of the car into chemical energy stored in the car's battery. However, during the winter months it can lead to dangerous, unexpected handling characteristics. On slippery roads, the brake-like force to the wheels can cause a loss of grip, reducing the tyre's ability to help steer th...