Ford Teaches Electric Car Drivers How To Drive in the Snow & Cold – CleanTechnica

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As we enter the season of extreme cold and snow, let me, a Floridian, tell you what you should do to protect your car and get the most out of your electric vehicle.

Okay, no, I’m close to useless in this regard, with very little experience driving in extreme cold or snow. However, Ford, whose headquarters are in cold and snowy Michigan, has some tips for you. Perhaps these could be useful to some of the millions of new EV owners in 2024.

I have to admit, when I saw the list, it included more general common sense than truly special tricks or northerly know-how. I was expecting to learn some things, not just be reminded of smart driving and charging habits. Nonetheless, we don’t want anyone to get stuck in the freezing cold and we all know how we can lose our heads and common sense in the holiday season, so let’s roll through all of Ford’s winter driving tips.

1. Park your electric vehicle in a garage, if possible. Well, yeah … it’s better to not put your car through below-freezing temperatures. I’m not sure if this is going to change anyone’s parking habits. However, as part of this first tip, Ford does highlight a benefit of EVs: “And with zero tailpipe emissions, you can safely warm up the vehicle’s cabin while garaged.” Indeed!

2. Remove all snow from the vehicle before driving. Err …. yeah. I’m no snow expert, but isn’t this advised anyway? Ford explains the reasons for doing this: “This is important to reduce weight and reduce air resistance when driving, but it’s also important for visibility and your own safety. Several of Ford’s driver assistance technologies make use of sensors and cameras that must be free of snow to function properly.” But, again, that’s not EV-specific and isn’t it a matter of habit? Anyway….

3. Plug in your electric vehicle when parked for extended periods of time. Yeah … I’m not even going to discuss this one, but, yeah, keep your EV plugged in when possible when dealing with extreme cold. But Ford does provide one interesting note: “When the vehicle is plugged in, the vehicle’s battery temperature is kept above freezing temperatures to help optimize battery performance; this occurs regardless of whether or not the vehicle is actively charging while plugged in.” Interesting.

4. Set daily Departure Times to precondition both the vehicle’s battery and cabin while plugged-in. This is a basic feature people should be accustomed to, accessible on the Ford app and other EV apps. But, yes, it’s especially useful when it’s extremely cold outside. For those unfamiliar with how to do it on the Ford app, the company provides step-by-step instructions and screenshots.

5. Reduce energy consumption used by the vehicle HVAC. “If equipped, use the heated seats and heated steering wheel as primary heat and lower the cabin temperature setting to reduce energy consumed by using HVAC.” Indeed, those are much more efficient ways to heat yourself up! Okay, I’ll count that as a useful tip to extend range while driving in the snow.

6. Ensure your tires are at the proper pressure. This is again a general tip that’s useful to go with no matter what kind of powertrain you have, but it’s especially useful for trying to maximize your EV range.

Well, perhaps this is just a reminder that electric vehicles are not all that different from traditional fossil-fueled vehicles.

Ford also provided a few fun facts in between those winter driving tips. Here are some that I particularly liked:

• You can find the proper tire pressure figures for your vehicle using the sticker on the sticker inside the driver door. Likewise, higher speeds can negatively impact range in all types of weather. For best results, Ford recommends limiting your speed when possible.
• Did You Know? Ford’s patented Vapor Injection Heat Pump (VIHP) is designed to help improve heat transfer capability and reduce power consumption. Being equipped with the heat pump aids in optimizing energy consumption, especially in colder weather. The heat pump in the 2024 electric F-150 Lightning pickup and upcoming 2025 electric Mustang Mach-E SUV works automatically so the driver doesn’t have to do anything special to utilize the benefits, apart from driving with more confidence during winter. Fan noise may be heard while the heat pump is running, which is normal.
• Did You Know? If you’re heading toward a DC fast charging station (using your vehicle’s navigation or Google Maps via Android Auto), your battery will now start to warm up automatically within 20 miles of your destination.