I have seen firsthand the toll winter weather takes on our cars as someone with 50-plus years of experience as an ASE and General Motors Mater Technician and vocational educator. The greatest challenge hybrids, plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) and electric vehicles (EVs)— EV/hybrids—face in the cold is with their batteries. According to Dan Carnoval, director of Eaton Experience Centers, “Just as a lead-acid battery, when temperatures drop, chemical reactions slow in Lithium-ion batteries (found in EV/hybrids cars), increasing battery charging times.” Carnoval added, “Charging in cold weather also means driving range drops.”
The internal combustion engines (ICE) found in hybrids/PHEVs also need servicing, along with EV systems. While there is crossover between hybrids, PHEVs and EVs, there are also distinct differences you’ll need to know to keep your electric or hybrid car in good shape for winter. Here are tips and pointers from experts in the EV industry, veteran master technicians, and hybrid owners that will help minimize the effects of cold temperatures on your EV/hybrid.
1
/
15
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.
2
/
15
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.
link