There are several reasons why electric cars have less autonomy at low temperatures. For example, if the battery is cold, then in general the chemical processes inside it are slower. Also, almost all the functions of the vehicle require more energy in the cold – such as the one required to heat the car cabin. In addition, wet or snowy roads increase rolling resistance and therefore energy consumption.

Although Ford’s purely electric vehicles, such as the new Capri, offer their customers up to 627 km autonomy, the latter is sure to decrease in cold winter days. This is common to all electric cars. Following the following 10 tips, energy losses in your electric car can be reduced by almost half – which will improve its autonomy respectively.

Preheat your car: In almost all Ford’s electric passenger and business vehicles you can easily start the cabin heating through the Fordpass app. If your EV charges you, warm -up will not affect its battery charge levels – and therefore autonomy.

Charging the battery when it is hot: A warm battery accepts charge more efficiently than a cold. Save time and money while fast charging with the battery warm. The latest versions of Ford’s electric and professional vehicles have the ability to prepare for rapid charging-which can be easy to determine in the built-in car navigation system and navigation at the fast charging station. Then the car battery will preheat and prepare for rapid charge.

Park on the garage: If you can, park your electric car in a garage during the winter, keeping it a little hotter. This will also prevent snow concentration on its exterior surfaces – which increases both the weight of the car and the aerodynamic resistors.

Reduce the use of air conditioning: Use steering wheel heating and that of seats instead of having a high levels in the air conditioning system. This is energy more efficient than the operation of the air conditioning system at high temperatures.

Charging more often and smarter: If you are going to travel, charge your car just before you start driving. Thus, the car’s battery will be heated by the charging session, resulting in its temperature more easily as you drive. If necessary, feel free to charge your EV battery more often. Charging helps maintain battery heat. A battery performs better when its charge levels range between 20 and 80%.

Drive smarter: Try to avoid unnecessary braking. Keep as many steady speeds as possible. If you increase your speed from 80 to 90 km/h, save only 5 seconds per kilometer. However, energy consumption can increase by up to 10-15%.

Use regenerative braking: To benefit as much as possible from regenerative braking, you need to gradually brake so that the car can recover as much energy as possible.

Remove snow from the car before driving: This proves to be important to reduce both the weight of the vehicle and the aerodynamic resistors. It is also important for your visibility and your own safety, while at the same time many of the driver support technologies use sensors and cameras that should not be covered with snow to function properly.

Make sure your tires have the right pressure: Tires that do not have the right pressure can affect rolling resistance, which increases energy consumption. Non -appropriate pressure will also result in the supply of inferior performance at road behavior – much more on snowy and frozen roads.

Keep safe distances and adjust your speed in time to conditions: You should remember that in winter driving conditions it is extremely important to keep longer distances – and to adjust your speed in time and smoothly, taking advantage of regenerative braking. This is especially important with an electric car.