How to Optimize Your Ford EV’s Driving Range in the Winter

Though the holidays are over, winter conditions are still going strong for many drivers across the United States. And while you may be reaping the benefits of great Ford all-electric vehicles (EVs) like the Mustang Mach-E, cold conditions still impact both how you drive and how far you can go in your vehicle.

As temperatures drop below 40 degrees Fahrenheit, an electric car’s battery produces less current. And when temperatures drop to below 20 degrees, conditions can significantly decrease your EV’s range. In fact, if a car battery isn’t charged well, it can nearly become entirely drained in just a few hours if left out in the cold.

Below are a few tips to help you prepare your EV for a cold winter.

Plan How Much You Need to Charge

Consider and plan out when you’ll need to get the most range out of your EV. For example, if you need to leave at the crack of dawn for work and it’s still below 30 degrees from overnight weather, remember to set the vehicle charge so that it finishes close to when you need to leave instead of fully charging it earlier the previous night.

Heat Your EV Before You Leave

Before you get behind the wheel to commute in the cold weather, turn your EV’s heat on about 30 minutes early while it’s still plugged in. This helps to heat up the battery so it keeps a stronger charge, and additionally optimizes the vehicle’s driving range. But this needs to be done while the car is still charging to ensure no additional energy is used from the battery to warm up the car. Most modern EVs have an app that lets you heat up the vehicle on command or via a pre-set schedule.

Park in a Garage

While many drivers benefit from the convenience of street parking, if you have space in your garage in the winter it’s best to park your EV there for maximum driving range. The relative warmth of the garage compared to outdoor conditions will help keep the battery charged longer. And just as importantly, a vehicle battery left in the cold weather for too long won’t operate as well as when kept in warmer environments. This can also be true for public parking garages in addition to your garage at home.

Check Your Tire Pressure

While regularly checking your tire pressure is a good idea for any vehicle, it’s even more important for EVs since they can be more negatively impacted by low tire pressure. Every 10-degree dip in the ambient temperature can decrease tire pressure by one pound per square inch (PSI). The colder it gets, the lower your tire’s PSI becomes. For EV’s specifically, recent research from ExxonMobil shows that the right amount of pressure can increase the vehicle’s energy efficiency by 3% to 7%.

Stay turned to Haldeman Kutztown’s blog to stay up to date on all the latest electric vehicle recommendations and advancements! To learn more about all-electric models like the 2023 F-150 Lightning or the 2023 Mustang Mach-E, contact our dealership today!