Winter-Ready: Essential Tips for Driving Your GM EV in Cold Weather
As winter settles in, bringing with it snow, ice, and plummeting temperatures across the United States, it’s crucial to ensure your vehicle is prepared for the challenges of the season. Whether you’re navigating icy roads or enduring frigid temperatures, being ready for winter conditions is essential for your safety and comfort. General Motors, headquartered in Detroit—a city known for its below-freezing temperatures and frequent snowfall—has spent over a century designing vehicles, including electric ones, that are built to handle harsh winter weather.
If you’re behind the wheel of a Chevrolet, GMC, or Cadillac EV, you’re driving a vehicle that’s engineered to deliver year-round comfort, capability, and reliability. But what makes GM electric vehicles (EVs) uniquely suited for winter driving? Let’s take a closer look at the advanced features and tips that will help you get the most out of your GM EV during the cold months.
Battery Technology: Designed for Cold Weather Performance
A key factor in your GM EV’s winter readiness is its advanced thermal management system. Every GM electric vehicle comes equipped with a state-of-the-art system that helps regulate the temperature of its battery. Maintaining the ideal temperature is crucial to ensuring your EV’s battery operates at peak efficiency and longevity. In colder conditions, the system works to keep the battery warm, preventing it from getting too cold, while during hot weather, it helps cool the battery to avoid overheating. This dynamic approach ensures that no matter the season, your EV is ready to perform.
Preconditioning: A Warm Start Every Time
One of the most significant advantages of owning a GM electric vehicle is the ability to precondition the cabin before you even get in. In the winter, there’s nothing worse than getting into a cold car, but with a GM EV, that’s a thing of the past. Using the vehicle’s infotainment system or smartphone app, you can schedule the car to warm up before your departure. This means the interior of your car will be at a comfortable temperature, and if your vehicle is equipped with heated seats, they will be warm and ready to go when you are.
What’s even more convenient is that you can do this while your car is still plugged in to its charger. This ensures you can enjoy a cozy cabin without worrying about draining the driving range, as the car’s energy draw during preconditioning comes from the charger, not the battery. If you have a set daily routine, you can set up a preconditioning schedule to ensure your vehicle is always at the right temperature when it’s time to drive. Heading out on an unplanned trip? Use the remote start feature on your key fob or smartphone to warm up your car without needing to physically interact with it.
Eco Climate Mode: Comfort without Compromise
For GM EV owners who want to maximize efficiency, Eco Climate mode is a must-try feature. This mode optimizes the heating and cooling of the cabin by directing air to where it’s needed most—toward the seats and occupied areas of the car. By focusing on the areas that are actually in use, Eco Climate mode reduces unnecessary energy consumption, ensuring that your battery power is used efficiently to maintain comfort. Not only does this reduce your car’s environmental impact, but it also helps preserve your battery life over longer winter commutes.
Heat Pump: Harnessing Energy for Comfort
Another standout feature that makes GM EVs perfect for winter driving is the heat pump. Unlike traditional systems that rely on the car’s battery to generate heat, GM’s innovative heat pump collects waste heat from various sources within the vehicle, such as the electric motors, the electrical system, the brakes, and even the air you breathe. This captured heat is then used to warm the cabin, significantly reducing the amount of energy the car needs to use to generate warmth. This system operates automatically, meaning your EV can keep you warm without depleting the battery, even on the coldest days.
Winter Driving Tips and Tricks
Although GM’s electric vehicles come with advanced features that make them ideal for winter driving, there are a few additional tips and tricks that can help you get the most out of your EV during the colder months.
- Keep Your EV Plugged In When Not in Use
If you charge your vehicle at home, it’s a good idea to keep your GM EV plugged in whenever it’s parked. This allows you to take full advantage of preconditioning features and ensure the battery stays at its optimal temperature. When your car is plugged in, it will maintain its battery charge and warm up the cabin without using any of the driving range. Additionally, since overcharging isn’t a concern with GM EVs, you don’t need to worry about unplugging until you’re ready to drive.
- Utilize Heated Seats and Steering Wheel
Heated seats and steering wheels are a great way to stay warm while conserving battery power. By using them, you reduce the need to heat the entire cabin with the car’s HVAC system. This is not only more energy-efficient but also a more comfortable experience, as you can direct warmth exactly where it’s needed.
- Activate One-Pedal Driving
One-Pedal Driving is a feature that comes standard with most GM electric vehicles. This driving mode captures the energy generated when you slow down or stop and sends it back into the battery, helping to replenish your charge. During the winter months, when driving conditions may be more unpredictable, One-Pedal Driving can help you maintain a smoother, more controlled ride while also contributing to energy regeneration.
- Check Your Tire Pressure
Tires are a critical component of any vehicle, but they’re especially important when temperatures drop. Cold weather can cause tire pressure to decrease, which can lead to reduced driving efficiency and handling. It’s important to check the tire pressure regularly and inflate them to the manufacturer’s recommended level to ensure your GM EV performs optimally, even in sub-zero conditions. Properly inflated tires not only improve efficiency but also enhance traction on slippery or icy roads.
- Monitor Battery Health and Range
Cold weather can have a temporary impact on your EV’s driving range, as the battery’s performance can be affected by low temperatures. However, you can mitigate this by being mindful of your driving habits and planning your trips accordingly. If you’re planning a longer drive, it’s a good idea to precondition the vehicle and ensure your battery is fully charged before heading out. Additionally, if you’re not using your vehicle for an extended period, consider plugging it in to keep the battery at the optimal charge level.
- Plan for Winter Road Conditions
When driving in winter, especially in regions prone to snow and ice, it’s important to be prepared for challenging road conditions. Make sure your GM EV is equipped with winter tires, which are designed to provide better traction in snowy and icy conditions. Additionally, familiarize yourself with local weather forecasts and road conditions before setting out, and always leave extra time for your trips, as winter driving often requires slower speeds and more cautious maneuvering.
General Motors has a long-standing tradition of designing vehicles that can handle extreme weather conditions, and their line of electric vehicles is no exception. With advanced features like thermal management systems, preconditioning capabilities, Eco Climate mode, and heat pumps, GM EVs are engineered to keep you comfortable and safe even in the harshest winter weather.
By following the winter driving tips outlined here—such as keeping your EV plugged in, utilizing heated seats, and checking tire pressure—you can maximize your EV’s performance and enjoy a smooth, efficient driving experience throughout the colder months. Whether you’re driving through snow, ice, or freezing temperatures, your GM EV is ready to take on winter with confidence and capability.
Read more: GM EV Winter Driving: Essential Tips to Stay Warm and Safe
