Winter, traffic jams and the vehicle’s battery level drops quickly – an unpleasant idea for all electric car owners. How real is this danger and how can you best protect yourself against such a scenario?
• Temperature-dependent range of electric cars
• Waiting times can be bridged even under winter conditions
• If there is no end to the traffic jam in sight, energy saving measures can be taken
Temperatures affect the range of electric cars
The range of electric cars depends on the outside temperature, this is reported by the General German Automobile Club (ADAC). Accordingly, the additional consumption of electric cars in the winter months ranges between 10 and 30 percent, but on short journeys consumption can also increase by up to 50 percent. This emerges from ADAC measurements and is primarily due to two main factors: On the one hand, electrical energy is used to heat the interior, windows, seats or even the steering wheel, and on the other hand, the battery cannot develop its full capacity even at low temperatures. Due to the electrochemical properties of batteries, the optimal outside temperature is between 20 and 40 degrees Celsius, as the ADAC reports. If the temperatures fall significantly below this range, this has a negative impact on the range of electric cars.
Electric cars demonstrate their staying power in winter conditions
The fear of traffic jams in winter for electric car drivers does not seem to be entirely unfounded. Nevertheless, the resistance of electric cars to winter conditions should not be underestimated. The ADAC subjected two popular electric models to an endurance test in February 2021. For the test, a fully charged Renault ZOE ZE 50 and an equally fully charged VW e-up were given the task of heating the interior of the vehicle to 22 degrees Celsius on a frosty night with outside temperatures between minus 9 and minus 14 degrees Celsius Operate seat heating. The result should provide some reassurance for electric car owners. The Renault could last around 17 hours under these conditions, while the VW could provide the required performance for 15 hours.
Of course, what determines the endurance of electric cars is how charged the vehicle’s battery is at the start of the traffic jam. Accordingly, owners of electric cars should ensure that the battery is sufficiently charged, especially in winter and before long journeys, in order to be prepared for unforeseeable situations.
Measures to save electricity in traffic jams
If it happens that drivers get stuck in winter traffic jams with their electric car, energy saving measures can be considered if the end of the waiting time is not foreseeable. Doors and windows should be kept closed if possible so as not to allow warm air to escape unnecessarily from inside the vehicle. The interior heating can be turned down if you can cope with lower temperatures by wearing additional clothing. The ADAC also recommends avoiding unnecessary consumers such as front/rear window heating, windshield wipers and low beams. However, the parking lights should not be switched off for safety reasons. Regardless of whether you own an electric car or a car with a combustion engine, the ADAC recommends obtaining information about the weather forecast and traffic situation and being prepared for any waiting times in winter conditions with warm blankets in the vehicle.
Editorial team finanzen.net