● The Electric Car Scheme shares top tips for cold weather driving for EV owners
● The EV salary sacrifice provider also reveals how to avoid fines when driving in icy conditions
LONDON, UK. February 4th, 2025 - The Electric Car Scheme has revealed its top tips for electric car owners for driving in the cold weather, preparing for longer trips and avoiding fines.
The UK has already been hit with multiple waves of icy weather this winter, with the trend expected to continue throughout February. In fact, many forecasters are predicting temperatures well below freezing to grip almost the entire country in the coming weeks. With this in mind, salary sacrifice EV provider The Electric Car Scheme has outlined top tips for drivers in February.
Winter journey preparation
Colder temperatures impact EVs in a number of ways, but perhaps the most important thing to consider is the effect they will have on your car’s battery. Low temperatures can reduce battery efficiency by around 15%, so it is important to factor that into journey planning and potential charging stops on longer trips.
To minimise this effect, there are a number of steps to take. The first of these is to make sure to insulate your garage, if you are lucky enough to have one, this will keep your car and its battery warmer while charging overnight, when costs are lowest.
If you don’t have access to indoor parking, Many EVs offer a pre-conditioning feature that allows you to warm up the battery before you start driving. If your car has this option, use it to ensure the battery is operating at its best, especially in winter. If you can do this while still plugged in, you can reduce energy loss and improve range. Just make sure you never leave your car unlocked or unattended while doing this, as this is a well-known theft risk that can invalidate your insurance.
Driving tips
Once you are on the road, driving carefully will help you both stay safe and conserve battery life. Reducing your speed slightly from 70mph to around 65mph can significantly improve your EV’s range and efficiency, as well as giving you and others around you more time to react to unexpected areas of ice or slush on the roads. Equally, selecting ECO Driving Mode or the equivalent, which adjusts acceleration and power delivery, will preserve the battery and help you avoid quick changes in speed or wheelspin.
When it comes to temperatures in the car, it’s important not to throw the baby out with the bathwater. Staying warm is important for staying alert and driving safely and wearing too many layers that restrict your mobility can be dangerous.
But you can stay warm without running the heating on full blast, we recommend making use of heated seats and steering wheels instead of turning the cabin heat to max, as this will be a more efficient way to stay warm, especially if you are driving alone. While you shouldn’t wear big puffy coats inside your car, it is sensible to wear an extra layer and stay away from shorts if you are planning a long drive!
Avoiding fines
Winter driving also adds an additional risk of highway code breaches and fines that drivers need to be aware of. For instance, if it has been snowing, it is important to clear snow and ice from your windscreen and windows before setting off, otherwise you could be at risk of breaching rule 229 of the Highway code and a fine.
While wearing a warm coat or jacket is not strictly prohibited, taking one off while driving, after the car has warmed up, could put you at risk of a £100 on-the-spot fine. This is because it can cause drivers to take their hands off the wheel while driving which is considered dangerous. This could also result in three penalty points on a driver’s license if caught in the act.
Finally, if you are stopping off to charge your EV in the cold weather, it is important to take time to do so safely, even if it means spending a bit more time in the freezing cold. According to Highway Code rule 239, EV drivers must park close to charge points and avoid creating trip hazards for pedestrians. Otherwise, you could be at risk of a fine of up to £130.
The Electric Car Scheme CEO and Co-Founder Thom Groot commented:
“EV drivers specifically need to be aware that cold temperatures impact their range. Accelerating gradually and maintaining consistent speeds will not only maximise your energy efficiency but also help reduce the risks of winter hazards, like icy or wet roads.
“Staying safe and avoiding fines often go hand in hand, but during cold weather, it’s important not to let simple things or time saving measures in the cold catch you out. Staying a little bit warmer, or not spending the time clearing your windows and windscreen totally is simply not worth the fine or penalty points you could incur. EVs are as safe and winter appropriate as any car, as long as you know how to look after them and understand the differences ahead of time.”
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