Winter is hard on electrified cars. Taking precautions and performing basic maintenance will keep your electric/hybrid running smoothly all winter.
15 Essential Winter Maintenance Tips for EVs and Hybrid Cars
Published on Nov. 27, 2024
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Winterize Your Vehicle
Get your EV/hybrid ready for winter driving the same way you’d winterize a non-hybrid car. Start by checking the condition, levels and protection levels of fluids. Our cars’ fluids protect, clean, lubricate, cool, cushion, transfer power and absorb the vibration of thousands of moving parts.
- Coolant: Test the coolant condition and coolant protection levels.
- PRO TIP: Leave checking and servicing battery coolant found in EVs to the pros.
- Motor oil: Degraded motor oil will thicken during winter. Change motor oil regularly. To reduce wear and tear on an ICE, it is critical to use your vehicle manufacturer’s recommended type, viscosity and weight motor oil and oil filter only.
- Filters: Check and replace engine air, fuel (ICE) and cabin air filters. Clean filters help an ICE run more efficiently and help increase performance. The cabin air filter not only helps prevent dust, road dirt and other airborne pollutants from entering the passenger compartment, it also allows warmed air to circulate more freely to help quickly warm up the interior. Some EV/hybrids have a high-voltage battery cooling intake filter. Check, clean or replace the filter every 5,000 miles to maintain optimal battery performance.
- Spark plugs and ignition wires: For optimum performance and fuel economy, check (and replace, if necessary) spark plugs and ignition wires on ICE.
- WARNING: Stay away from high voltage (usually orange) wires.
- Windshield wiper fluid: Washer solvent has only one job: help clean the windshield so you can drive safely. Use the correct type of washer solvent for your driving conditions.
- Hood and trunk (or frunk) strut rods/shocks: Joe Simes ASE and Toyota Master Technician, mentioned that “on older vehicles, the strut rods that hold the hood, trunk or hatchback open can weaken.” He suggests that on the first cold day of the season, you “check to make sure they keep the hood fully open.” Replace strut rods in pairs if they unexpectedly or slowly close on their own. Replacing strut rods is an easy DIY repair.
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Check the Rubber
Hoses and fan belts take the brunt of winter’s cold. Cold weather causes rubber and other components made from rubber composites and synthetics to shrink and become brittle. “Inspect hoses for cracks, leaks, swelling or bulging,” says Tom Diamond, Master ASE and Mazda technician. Diamond also said EV/hybrid cooling systems “are more complicated than a traditional ICE vehicle.” For example, coolant hoses circulate coolant to maintain battery, electric motor, and other component temperatures.
- Coolant/radiator hoses: There are usually two radiator hoses (hybrid), an upper and lower. One connects to the top of the radiator, the other to the bottom.
- Heater hoses: Usually located at the rear of the engine, they connect to and transport hot coolant from the engine through the heater core.
- Fuel hoses: These hoses are under the hood and under the car (hybrid) and carry fuel from the gas tank to the engine.
- Brake hoses: Located at the wheels, they connect the brake calipers to steel brake lines. Also, check the brake fluid level and condition.
- Drive (V-belt), serpentine and timing belts: Inspect (and replace) if belt ribs are rounded over or flattened out; show cracks in the belt ribbing spaced every 1/8-inch or so; pieces of the belt ribbing are missing or frayed; the side of the belt without ribs is glazed, glossy or shiny; has rounded edges or chunks missing, peeling or fraying.
- Windshield wipers: Good windshield wipers help you see the road when it’s snowing. Choose the best windshield wiper replacements. It is not only important for safety and comfort but can also help preserve battery power by reducing the amount of time you have to run the windshield defrosters.
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Check Your Tires
Winter driving presents its own set of challenges. Tires are one of our vehicles’ most important safety features. Tires in good condition and well maintained will increase an EV/hybrid’s driving range, provide better traction, shorter stopping distance and offer better handling when driving in poor weather conditions.
Keep an eye on:
- Tire pressure: Set tire pressure at the manufacturer’s recommended PSI. Always reinstall the tire valve cap
- Tire tread depth: There are a few ways to measure tire tread depth. The minimum legal limit is 2/32 of an inch; however, Goodyear recommends keeping a close eye on your tire tread once it reaches 4/32 of an inch. Driving on worn tires greatly increases the risk of a blowout.
- Tire wear: Uneven tire wear patterns reduce the amount of tire tread that actually touches the road. Less tread contact increases stopping distances while reducing steerability and directional control. Look for uneven wear on the edges and middle of your tires, as well as uneven wear and visible damage to the tread or sidewall.
Have the tires and wheels rotated, balanced, and suspension aligned to help increase tire life and replace tires if too far worn.
What about snow tires?
EV/hybrids can benefit from improved traction and increased handling and stability when snow (winter) tires are installed. Be aware that if your EV/hybrid is all-wheel drive, you will need snow tires on all four wheels. If you live in a very cold and snowy climate and are not a fan of having to mount and dismount your tires twice a year, consider all-weather tires with the Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake (3PMSF) symbol, as an alternative to winter tires. Tires with only the M+S (mud and snow) markings are better than regular (all-season) tires in soft snow but are not a replacement for winter or all-weather tires.
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Keep a Clean Car
Winter weather is no friend to an EV/hybrid. Specifically, ice and snow build up in your undercarriage. Routinely washing and waxing your car in winter not only presents an overall good appearance, but it will also help remove buildup ice and snow that could reduce fuel /range economy—or worse, damage your car. Be sure to thoroughly flush the wheel wells and undercarriage to wash away road salts and grime.
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Plug In and Precondition
Some EVs have “a preconditioning feature (that) eases charging in cold—and hot—weather,” said Simes. Simes also added, “Some EVs can be set on a timer, or the driver can manually turn on (the) preconditioning (feature). There are two types of preconditioning controlled by a vehicle’s infotainment system or manufacturer’s app.
- Cabin Preconditioning: Helps warm (or cool) the passenger compartment before starting your commute.
- Battery Preconditioning: Warms (or cools) the battery to an ideal operating temperature. Especially important in cold weather conditions, preconditioning the battery helps conserve power, increase longevity, charge quicker and deliver power more effectively.
According to Simes, “Since either preconditioning process will use some battery power, you should precondition while the vehicle is still plugged into its charger.”
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Insulate Your Grill
Insulating (blocking the grill) on a hybrid can help your vehicle maintain optimal operating temperature. This will keep the battery and ICE warmer, increase fuel economy on colder days, and reduce the amount of energy necessary to heat the passenger compartment.
Any vehicle running at proper temperature lessens the overall strain placed on all the vehicle’s systems, which, over time, reduces wear and tear. Cut sections of foam pipe insulation and fit the pieces into the grill. You may even be able to use old pool noodles instead of buying new pipe insulation.
Depending on your vehicle’s make and model and the degree of cold you experience, you may want to block the grill’s top and bottom sections. Remove insulation during warm-weather driving.
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Lighten Up
Whether your EV/hybrid vehicle has front-wheel or all-wheel drive, if you’re carrying too much weight, your vehicle will be closer to the ground. This will cause you to lose traction and increase stopping distances when slogging through winter’s icy, snowy muck. So, lose those unnecessary items. Instead, build a simple shelf in your garage to store them.
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Park in a Garage
Yes, this is common sense, but, if possible, parking your EV/hybrid car in a garage protects it from the cold. While an uninsulated garage can help make your vehicle warmer, it also offers protection from rain, water intrusion, snow, ice and dust particles.
- Pro tip: On hybrids, keeping your fuel tank full reduces the chance of water condensing in the tank and a no start condition in below freezing weather.
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Eco-Mode
Many EV/hybrid cars are equipped with eco-mode, which helps lower fuel consumption and reduce tailpipe emissions on a hybrid ICE. According to Bryce Sommerer, ASE and Toyota Certified Master EV Technician at Faulkner Toyota of Trevose, “many drivers find driving in eco-mode helps with energy management. By using electric power instead of the internal combustion engine in stop-and-go traffic, they notice increased driving range when running in eco-mode (while) only on battery power.”
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Heat From the Bottom Up
Instead of using preconditioning to heat the entire passenger compartment, consider only heating your car seats first in winter. Keeping the car plugged in prevents the battery from draining, but a warm back and backside may be the answer, especially if you’re in a hurry and don’t have time to wait for the cabin preconditioning to kick in.
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Test and Service the Low Voltage Battery
SAFETY WARNING: Under no circumstances should you ever work on or near an EV/hybrids high-voltage battery or wiring.
Yes, hybrids and EVs come with a traditional 12-volt battery. It powers the starting circuit and low-power computer systems that manage high-voltage systems. Diamond says, “Just like a traditional 12-volt battery you find in an ICE vehicle, it should be tested and serviced before winter sets in.” Even though most batteries come with a three to six-year warranty (and I always carry a jump starter in my vehicles), I replace the batteries in my vehicles every three years for peace of mind.
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Lubricate Your Car Before Winter
Winter brings water and salt-laden snow that can penetrate deep into and damage doors, trunk latches, weatherstripping and door hinges. To protect doors, locks/latches, windows and fuel or battery charging port doors from freezing, lubricate often overlooked points around your vehicle to ensure they remain in good working order throughout harsh winter conditions.
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Exterior Lights
Winter means longer nights and dark roads. When charging or fueling your EV/hybrid, ensure all your lights are working. Driving in a storm is not the time to realize you have a burned-out headlight, stop light bulb or other lights that can help you see and be seen. Diamond suggests “always replace all bulbs in pairs.”
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Warm Your Vehicle’s Engine
Cold winter weather remains the biggest threat to an EV/hybrids fuel economy. Taking the time to warm your vehicle’s engine before driving off could greatly increase fuel efficiency. In addition, you should take full advantage of your car’s digital dashboard. You could lower fuel consumption by monitoring charging and battery levels, speedometer, and energy consumption readings.
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Defrost the Windows
While defrosting windows uses some of your EV/hybrids battery power, if you’re taking time to warm up the engine, run the defroster. To preserve as much battery power as possible, use a quality snow brush or ice scraper or consider a windshield ice and snow cover to clean as much ice and snow from the windshield as possible. Then, only run the defroster long enough to begin melting what’s left. Consider winter wiper blades to brush away heavy snow while driving.
About the Experts
- Dan Carnovale is an industry-recognized Power Quality expert. He has authored technical papers and magazine articles and presented over 200 online technical seminars and technical sessions on surge protection, metering, harmonics, solar, microgrids, EV charging and power systems analysis. Dan holds a Bachelor of Engineering from Gannon University, an MBA from Robert Morris University and a Master’s Degree in Electrical Power from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
- Bryce Sommerer has over 38 years of experience in the automotive repair industry and is an ASE and Toyota Certified Master EV Technician at Faulkner Toyota of Trevose.
- Tom Diamond has over 30 years of experience in the automotive repair industry as a technician, certified original equipment manufacturer (Mazda) trainer and shop supervisor. He has been an ASE Master Technician for over 25 years, including ASE L1 advanced automotive engine performance certification and is a PA Department of Transportation certified state safety, emissions and reconstructed vehicle inspector as well as a certified welder.
- Joe Simes is an ASE and Toyota Master Technician, as well as PA certified emissions and safety inspection instructor and inspector. Joe now teaches Automotive Technology at North Montco Technical Career Center in Lansdale, PA.
Resources
- Conversations with current owners of a 2021 Toyota Venza Hybrid and 2022 Toyota Camry Hybrid (Nov 5, 2024)
- Consumer Reports: “How Much Do Cold Temperatures Affect an Electric Vehicle’s Driving Range?” (2024)
- U.S. Department of Environmental Protection: “Electric & Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles” (2024)
- U.S. Department of Environmental Protection: “Plug-in Electric Vehicle Charging: The Details” (2024)
- Kelly Blue Book: “Electric Cars 101: What You Need to Know About EVs” (2024)
- Autoweek: “Predicting How Much Range EV Batteries Lose over Time” (2022)
- 2022 Toyota Camry Hybrid Warranty and Maintenance Guide, Page 41
- NREL (National Laboratory of the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy): “Electric Vehicle Lithium-Ion Battery Life Cycle Management” (Feb 2023)
- On behalf of Carquest Technical Institute (CTI) / WorldPac Training Institute (WTI), ASE webinar: “Lubrication & Filtration Tech Update” (Oct 29, 2024)
- Mark Scholl, Executive Vice President of Operations & Retail Sales at Montway Auto Transport: “6 Ways Cold Weather Affects Your Car: Tips for Winter Car Care” (Dec 2023)
- Rob Harper, Director of Product Development and Technical Support at Ziebart.
