WINTER DRIVING TIPS

Yes, we do live in the tropical zone on SSI.  But we do get a short and mild winter.  Best to prepare.

PREPARATION TIPS

Ensure you have adequate winter tires and the pressure is correct.  Air compresses in colder temperatures and your tires can deflate a bit.  Some folks chose all season tires but I am a big believer on full-on winters, which I swap from summers about mid-October.  Ensure your window washer fluid is full and clean your windows really well for those low-sun angels.  

SUPPORT BATTERIES

• ensure your FOB battery is ok.  On a leaf, a CR 2025, as it is not nice for it to go flakey when you are in a snowbank trying to get in.  I carry a spare in my car.  
• ensure your 12 volt utility battery is in good shape as it runs lights and window wipers and “starts the car”.  The failure of the Leaf 12 volt battery is thr most common problem with the Leaf (and I assume other EV's).  When it goes below a charge level, the electonice go very wonky."  You can be unlocked out of your car.  I carry a multi-function Jump Starter as backup.
• Now that summer is coming to a close, it may be time to remember the 12 volt battery in your electric car.  From what I now understand, it is required to run all the 12 volt devices i your car (wipers, lights, entertainment, computers, heaters, etc.), that cannot run with the higher voltage traction battery.  In and ICE vehicle, the alternator and regulator keep the 12 volt battery happy.  In an EV, this is more challenging to do, so the 12 volts batteries do lot last as long.  If you have more information, I would like to know about it.  I have heard that some manufacturers, (example: Tesla) are now putting Lithium Ion batteries in their cars.  Li-Ion cost a lot more, but will last many times longer that lead acid, and weigh a lot less.  So probably a good way to go.
  
  The sign of the 12 volt battery going are the loss of the functions mentioned above, especially the computer component, which will cause your car electronics to act really weird.  The solution is replacement.  Jumping is possible. including using a portable jumping device (but be careful).
  
  

EV RANGE TIPS

Your electric vehicle will not go as far as in the summer.  You will lose range because of:

• the use of winter tires.  They are sticky and full of friction.  Studded winter tires are worse.
• Your regenerative systems being reduced
• you battery does not store as much energy at colder temparatures (but will return to normal in the Spring)
• use of heater and defrost (a "lot" of electricity)
• use of headlights and window wipers (a "little" electricity)

Best practices include:

• keeping the cabin warm rather than hot.
• Using seat and steering wheel heaters
• pre-heating the EV before leaving on a drive
• drive slower, which depending on the speed, can use far less energy

RODENTS

Here is another consideration.  Rodents.  Your EV will produce heat under the hood when charging.  Sometimes a critter can make a nest to soak up that wonderful heat.  They can also eat certain wire components (soy based).  Worth having a check every so often and tossing away any nest material that accumulates.