f you are an EV owner like me, one issue you face the most during cold weather is slow charging. In winter, EVs often charge much more slowly, and there are several reasons behind this. Let me walk you through five major reasons why EV charging slows down in cold conditions, and how you can fix these issues easily at home.
Let’s start.
1. Precondition or warm up the battery
A cold battery takes longer to accept a charge. That is the main reason charging feels slow in winter. The fix is simple. About 30 to 45 minutes before heading to a charging station, turn on the battery preconditioning feature using your car’s app or in-car system.
This works because it brings the battery to the ideal temperature for charging. As soon as you plug in, the battery starts charging at a much faster speed.
2. Charge immediately after driving
When you return from a drive or a trip, charge your EV right away. Do not wait until the next morning.
After driving, the battery is already warm. If you wait overnight, the battery cools down again, which leads to slower charging. Charging while the battery is still warm means it does not need extra energy to heat itself, and charging starts faster right away.
3. Set the charger as your navigation destination
Whenever you are heading out and plan to charge, set the charging station as the destination in your navigation or GPS.
Modern EVs, including models like Tesla, recognize that you are going to a charger. The car automatically starts preheating the battery during the drive. When you arrive, you get the maximum charging speed immediately, and the battery charges much faster.
4. Park in a garage or in sunlight
Outside temperature has a big impact on charging speed. Try to park your EV inside a garage whenever possible. Even if the garage is not heated, it still helps.
If a garage is not available, park the car in direct sunlight during the day. Even a small amount of warmth helps maintain battery temperature, reduces energy loss, and improves charging speed. In the evening, park inside. During the day, sunlight works in your favor.
5. Keep the car plugged in at home
Whenever your EV is parked at home, keep it plugged in, even if the battery is already full. Many people worry this will harm battery health, but it does not.
When plugged in, the car uses grid power to keep the battery warm instead of draining the battery itself. If there is any small drain, it gets topped up automatically. This keeps the battery healthy and ready, especially in cold weather.
By following these five tips, you can charge your EV faster in cold conditions without any negative impact on battery health.
EV Charging in Snow
Now, many people ask whether it is safe to charge an EV in snow. In my opinion, yes, charging in snow is completely safe. EV charging components are waterproof. The real issue comes from ice buildup, which can cause physical problems. Here are some important tips if you are charging your EV in snowy conditions.
Snow charging tips
1. Always cover the charging port
Snow can enter the charging port and freeze into ice, which can prevent the plug from locking properly or make it difficult to remove later.
A simple solution is to use a magnetic EV charging port cover, which is inexpensive and easy to find. Place it over the port like a raincoat to block snow.
If you do not have a cover, drape a cloth over the plug and handle. This prevents snow from directly entering the port and keeps internal components safe.
2. Clear snow before plugging in
Before plugging in, always check that there is no snow or ice on the charging port pins. Forcing the plug in can turn snow into ice and trigger charging errors.
Also, keep the charging cable off the ground. If it touches the ground, it can freeze and stick. Hang it on a hook or keep it elevated to avoid issues.
3. If the plug gets stuck
Sometimes the connector can freeze and get stuck in the car. If that happens, first push the connector gently inward to break the ice seal, then unlock and pull it out.
You can also use gentle heat or the manual emergency release cable. Most EVs include a manual release, often accessible from the trunk area, especially in SUVs and trucks.
Level 1 charging in cold weather
Charging from a standard home outlet using a Level 1 charger becomes challenging in cold weather. Level 1 charging provides very low power, which often is not enough to both warm the battery and charge it efficiently. Still, here are a few tips if Level 1 is your only option.
Tip 1: Park the car in sunlight while charging. Since Level 1 power is limited, letting the sun warm the battery helps prevent energy loss.
Tip 2: Plug in immediately after returning from a drive, when the battery is still warm. This reduces the effort required by the charger.
Tip 3: Leave the car plugged in overnight, even if the battery is full. This prevents battery drain caused by the car using its own energy to stay warm.
These tips can help, but speaking honestly as a friend, in snowy or very cold conditions, Level 1 charging should be seen as backup support, not a full charging solution. It can prevent the battery from dying, but it is not ideal for daily driving or outdoor parking.
If possible, a Level 2 charger is a much better option. If that is not affordable, then carefully follow the tips I shared to get the best results from a Level 1 charger.