Prepping for winter driving
Before the snow sets in, follow these tips to prepare your car for winter driving:
- Put winter tires on when the temperature is consistently below7 °C.
- Store a snow shovel and snowbrush in your trunk.
- Put together a winter emergency kit with items like first aid supplies, hand warmers, and nonperishable snacks.
- Charge up ahead of time and preheat your EV before driving in cold temperatures.
- Plan stops on a long journey to charge up.
- Park under cover.
These preparations can help increase your chances of not getting stuck at all, or at least help you get out of your icy situation.
Traction control systems
The first thing to do when trying to get yourself out of the snow is to know what kind of traction control system your EV has. Some EVs, like Tesla’s, have a “Slip Start” mode which is specifically designed to help get your car out of snow and mud.
If your EV just has a standard traction control system and/or there’s a lot of snow, you can try similar methods to getting a gas-powered car out of the snow – which includes turning the traction control system off so the wheels move more freely.
Clearing some room
No matter what car you drive, you’ll need to do some shoveling to free it. With the vehicle off, use a shovel to dig the snow out from around the tires. You’ll want enough room for the tires to move forward and backward a few feet, if possible. Remove any snow that’s higher than your EV’s ground clearance.
A slight shimmy
Once you’ve cleared some room, turn your EV on and put it into the lowest gear. Slowly move forwards then backward to flatten any loose snow trapping you. If you hear the tires spinning, take your foot off the accelerator.
Flooring it won’t help in this situation. Once your EV is stuck, you’ll need to be more strategic about getting it out than just holding the accelerator.
Increasing grip
If your tires keep spinning, try placing things like floor mats, snow chains, cardboard, sand or cat litter under the tires to give them more grip on the snow and ice.
Applying some elbow grease
If you have a couple of volunteers, you can attempt to push your EV out of the snow. Have your helpers push on the count of three as you gently press on the accelerator to try to break free.
Because of their design, it’s not ideal to push an EV in any scenario, so only try this as a last resort.
Calling for backup
Don’t hesitate to call for roadside assistance if you need help getting out of the snow. Remember: EVs can't be towed the same way as regular cars. Make sure to inform roadside assistance you have an EV so they can bring the correct resources to assist you (e.g., a flatbed truck for towing).
For any questions about preparing or managing your EV in the winter, visit a NexDrive service centre to speak with an expert.