Electrified cars need some basic protections to keep running smoothly in winter.
While many maintenance tips for EVs and hybrids are similar to gas powered vehicles, drivers may well find it takes longer to charge batteries in cold weather and driving range may drop.
As with non-EVs, check the fluids for the winter. With an EV, checking and servicing battery coolants should be left to the pros, according to Family Handyman. But all fluids, including motor oil, should be changed for the winter.
For the best performance and fuel economy in hybrids, check and replace spark plugs, ignition wires.
Every rubber component, such as coolant and heater hoses, should be inspected for cracks, leaks, swelling or bulging.
If your EV has a preconditioning feature for the battery, be sure to precondition while the vehicle is still plugged in and charges. This feature brings the battery to the ideal operating temperature. Try heating car seats first in the winter, especially if you are in a hurry.
On hybrids, insulating the grill can help the vehicle maintain it best operating temperature, increasing fuel economy on colder days.
Rick Good spent ten years in the newspaper business, including with The News & Observer (Raleigh, NC) and The Greenville News (Greenville, SC). He co-wrote, with Melinda Coleman, Rutledge to Riley: Governors of South Carolina, 1776–Present (Published by The Greenville News), and is the author of Mind Games Trivia #1 (Amazon). He has recently spent 15 years creating original trivia content through Sounds Good Mobile Entertainment and continues that with his new company, SGME Software. He edits The Smart Reader’s money, real estate, and business coverage.
