Owning an electric vehicle (EV) in Michigan comes with unique challenges and benefits. Cold winters, hot summers, crisp falls, and unpredictable springs put EV batteries to the test year-round.
Temperature changes affect range, charging time, and long-term battery health, so it’s important for owners to manage their vehicles each season. We’ll be offering season-specific tips to optimize your range and preserve your battery life for Michigan drivers.
Winter: Cold Weather Charging and Preserving Range
Michigan winters bring below-zero wind chills and lake-effect snow. Lithium-ion batteries lose efficiency in freezing temperatures, which reduce both range and charging performance, so here are a few tips to help you prepare for winter driving:
● Precondition in advance
Use your EV’s app or in-car controls to precondition the cabin and battery while charging; it helps ensure optimal battery temperature, which will reduce energy loss and preserve range.
● Leave your EV charging overnight
Plugging your EV into your home charger overnight preserves battery temperature and saves energy losses due to the thermal management system.
● Use seat and steering wheel heaters
Heating the entire cabin is energy-hungry. Seat and wheel warmers consume less energy and still keep you warm.
● Reduce range planning
Expect a 20 to 40 percent drop in range in cold conditions. If your trip approaches your EV’s limits, plan charging stops and keep public fast chargers as backup.
By doing so, the impact of cold on both daily usage and long-term battery life is reduced.
Spring: How to Cope with Unpredictability
Michigan spring is likely to alternate between frosty mornings and sunny afternoons, which means a mixed bag for EV batteries. To deal with the variations:
● Monitor tire pressure
Frosty mornings drop tire pressure, which reduces their efficiency. Check and top up to manufacturer levels throughout the day.
● Be on the lookout for wet roads
Wet roads increase rolling resistance. Eco-driving techniques, like smooth acceleration, coasting, and regenerative braking, help maintain efficiency.
● Avoid rapid charging on cold days
When your EV has spent time parked in freezing weather, allow the battery to naturally adjust prior to initiating an accelerated charge. This enables the thermal system to precondition the battery optimally.
The unpredictability of Michigan springs demands vigilance, but careful observation and adaptive driving can still help preserve your battery range and health.
Summer: Evading Heat Stress
Although Michigan summers are rarely extreme, humidity and occasional 90-degree days can strain EV batteries. Heat speeds up chemical reactions in the battery, potentially shortening its lifespan if not managed properly:
● Park in shade whenever possible
Having your EV parked in the shade lowers cabin and battery temperatures, lessening the load on the cooling system and reducing preconditioning requirements.
● Level 2 charging in hot weather
Use Level 2 charging whenever possible. Slower charging generates less heat and is easier on the battery, preserving performance, efficiency, and long-term life.
● Pre-cool while charging
Charging and pre-cooling the cabin ahead of time conserves range and reduces battery loading, preserving efficiency and comfort before driving.
● Safe on the road
Many public EV charging stations rely on internet connections to handle payments, updates, and remote monitoring. Your car doesn’t connect to these networks, but some stations also provide free Wi-Fi for drivers while they wait.
As with any public Wi-Fi, there’s a chance of encountering unsecured connections or even malicious look-alike hotspots. If you do go online at a charging stop, using a VPN to encrypt your traffic is a straightforward way to keep your browsing more private.
● Management of charge level
Keeping the battery at 20 to 80 percent during regular usage minimizes heat-related stress and conserves battery life in the long term.
By being proactive in preventing exposure to heat, you can keep your EV safe and ensure consistent performance throughout the summer months.
Fall: Transition Preparation
Fall is among the best times to drive in Michigan. Better battery performance from cold air and comfortable temperatures make road trips a pleasure. Fall is also the ideal time to winterize your EV:
● Plan battery and charging system maintenance
Get your EV serviced at the start of fall to ensure the battery management system and charging equipment are in excellent condition for cold weather.
● Rescheduling charging
During shorter days, finishing charging to full just before departure helps keep the battery marginally warmer and ready for driving.
● Mild temperatures for long trips
Plan regional travel during fall when the range of your EV is best, prior to winter reducing efficiency.
Fall creates a time frame where drivers can enjoy peak EV performance while making early preparations for winter.
Year-Round Long-Term Battery Care
As much as the seasons change, there are habits that promote year-round battery longevity:
● Avoid low battery
Avoid letting the battery drop below 10 percent regularly, as frequent deep cycling accelerates wear and reduces long-term battery life (goes for your other electronic devices, too).
● Balance rapid and slow charging
Use DC rapid charging for road trips or emergencies, but rely on Level 2 charging for everyday use to reduce stress on the battery and preserve its lifespan.
● Keep software up to date
Manufacturers regularly release over-the-air updates that improve battery management and charging efficiency.
● Smooth driving
Sudden acceleration and hard braking are a drain on the energy and produce heat. Drive slowly and smoothly to conserve range and reduce the stress on the battery.
Habitual, cautious behavior has your EV operate smoothly and maintains the battery for many years.
The Michigan Advantage
Michigan’s climate is tough, but seasonality benefits battery life by giving batteries an opportunity to operate in moderate temperatures for the majority of the year.
With a seasonal approach, preconditioning in winter, shade parking in summer, fall preventive maintenance, and careful observation in spring, EV owners can maximize range and preserve battery health.
With planning and seasonal best management practices, EVs can perform wonderfully in all seasons!
