We’ve shared a guide on the benefits of EV vehicles in the summer with proper care and maintenance.
What are the benefits of EVs in the summer?
Long-lasting, temperature-controlled batteries
Generally, 15-35 degrees Celsius is optimal for EV performance; however, your vehicle’s thermal management system can protect it when temperatures exceed this range.
Most electric vehicles have a temperature control system to keep batteries at optimal temperature and prevent overheating. Although this helps, we’d also recommend being proactive and monitoring the temperature during charging and when driving, especially during extreme heat.
Electric vehicles can also have pre-conditioning, which you can set to start via your smartphone app before you get in the car, ensuring your car is cool before you drive. Pre-conditioning helps comfort and EV battery management, ensuring minimal energy consumption, especially when plugged into a charger.
Manageable weather conditions
EV drivers find the summer weather conditions more manageable than winter challenges, such as losing range. As summer temperatures rarely exceed 30 degrees Celsius in the UK for longer periods, many drivers only experience minor range reductions.
With a growing EV charging network and many businesses installing EV chargepoints, including rapid chargers with weather protection, it’s easier to drive around and charge as you wish.
The summer performance of EV vehicles is one of the biggest advantages of EV ownership because of quieter transport and minimal range impact in the hottest UK weather.
Eco-mode on many cars
Most EVs have eco-mode, which helps conserve mileage by reducing energy spent on other car functions that consume energy quickly, such as air conditioning and helps with aggressive accelerating. The use of eco-mode means conserving the charge for longer and helping you optimise performance in the summer.
Quality chargers help your EV
Most EVs benefit from thermal management systems, especially in the summer. When your vehicle is plugged into a well-maintained charger, it will regulate your battery’s temperature without draining it. The better quality the charger, including cabling, infrastructure and how it's cared for, will impact the benefit on your vehicle.
If you’re a business, education establishment or workplace, consider hiring an EV installer who provides aftercare and maintenance like us to ensure your customers, employees, or visitors get the maximum benefit on their vehicles, especially in the summer.
Top tips to care for your electric vehicle in the summer
- Use eco-mode on your electric vehicle to conserve your mileage by reducing the energy spent on other functions
- Travel light, as more energy is used when transporting additional weight
- Avoid parking in direct sunlight. Try shading the car to reduce your car's overheating
- Limit rapid charging as it can raise the battery temperature significantly, compared with a slower charge
- Charge up to 80% to conserve good battery health and reduce the chance of overheating the battery
- Wait before you charge the car after you’ve driven, especially for long periods, as the battery is still hot
