Winter Driving Tips for EV Owners

Winter driving can be some of the most treacherous and scary driving a person can do in their lifetime. An electric vehicle can also suffer from less range due to freezing and below-freezing conditions. However, if you are prepared and conditioned to know how to take care of your Ford EV during the winter months, there are fewer chances of issues arising. Luckily, Ford has provided tips and tricks for you to have a better winter in your Ford F-150 Lightning or Mach-E.  

Try To Park in Some Sort of Enclosed or Covered Parking 

If you happen to have a garage or some sort of covered parking, this will help to make things easier for your electric vehicle. An enclosed garage, especially, can greatly reduce poor weather conditions outside that can harm the battery. Plus, you can safely warm up the interior of the car inside a garage without having to worry about harmful and deadly exhaust.  

Make Sure to Clean Any Snow or Ice Off Before Driving 

If you don’t have some sort of enclosed or covered parking, please make sure to get all of the snow and ice off your car first before driving away. Even though it’s illegal in most states to drive a vehicle packed with snow and ice, some people still do. It is incredibly dangerous to have hard snow and ice flying off the roof of your vehicle as you’re driving down the road. In the case of an EV, sweeping off all snow and ice from your car will reduce the overall weight that the battery system has to account for when driving down the road. Plus, the vehicle’s safety systems, driver-assistance tech, sensors, and cameras will all function properly when free and clear of any debris.  

Always Leave Your EV Plugged In 

If you expect to have to park your Lightning or Mach-E for a longer period of time, Ford recommends that you keep the vehicle plugged into a charger because it can help to maintain your battery’s overall health. When plugged in, the battery is kept at temperatures above freezing, which helps reduce stress and strain on the system over time. Ford says the battery stays at an optimal temperature when plugged in, even if it isn’t actively being charged.  

Set Your Departure Times in The System 

Those owners who make routine everyday commutes every day should take advantage of the daily Departure Times settings that will precondition the battery and interior of the car while plugged in. This means that, during these scheduled times, the car will automatically know when the battery needs to be fully charged and ready to go, and the cabin can also be nice and toasty, awaiting your arrival. The system will also make sure the battery is at the absolute best temperature to give the maximum amount of range and overall performance. If you need to charge while out and about, you should program your destination into the car’s navigation or Google Maps because the battery will automatically start warming itself up when you are within 20 minutes of a DC fast charger. This helps to ensure the fastest recharge times.  

A Word from Some Ford EV Owners  

Les and Marlene Strickland live in Broomfield, Colorado, an area very used to extremely cold conditions. They own both a Mach-E and an F-150 Lightning. However, they are very prepared for those winter months, telling Ford, “During the winter months or if I plan to go skiing, I precondition my F-150 Lightning in the garage while plugged in. Regenerative braking helps me a great deal while driving downhill from the mountains. I was at Mount Blue Sky recently and loved getting range back on my drive downhill.” 

Why Choose Dick Smith Ford of Columbia 

At Dick Smith Ford of Columbia, we value our customers and offer some of the best prices and services. With more than 100 new and used vehicles to choose from, our outstanding sales team and finance department will work hard to make sure you drive away happy. Our fantastic service department will take care of your new-to-you vehicle as if it were their own.