Cold weather care for your EV

Your EV’s battery uses lithium-ion cells to store and deliver energy. Inside the battery, lithium ions move back and forth to keep the system balanced while electrons flow through the vehicle's circuits. What counts as “cold” for a high-voltage battery might surprise you—anything below about 72°F (22°C) can start to slow down those ions. The colder it gets, the more noticeable the effect: charging can take longer, power delivery may be less efficient, and range can be reduced until the battery warms up.

But here are some things you can do:

Precondition your vehicle: (by turning on the heat climate function) while it’s plugged in to warm the cabin and battery before driving. In doing so, you’ll use the energy from the charger and not the battery.

TIP: Schedule preconditioning in the myVW app or activate it from the vehicle infotainment screen.

Keep your battery above 20% to help maintain consistent and optimal performance of the vehicle and its systems, such as regenerative braking (B mode). While regen can still function below 20%, its effectiveness could be reduced depending on the battery temperature and charge level.

To shield the vehicle from extreme cold and icy conditions, park indoors or in a covered space. If neither of these are an option, you may consider using a weather-appropriate car cover, such as the Stormproof™ covers available for our EV models.  

We know that cold temperatures slow down lithium ions, which then affects how quickly energy can flow into the battery. This means that charging—especially fast charging—may take longer than usual.

So what can you do?

Charge overnight at home using a Level 1 or Level 2 charger so your EV is ready to go in the morning, when temperatures are typically lowest.

Allow extra time for charging during road trips or when using public chargers in cold weather.

Use scheduled charging in the myVW app to start charging close to your departure time. This not only takes advantage of off-peak electricity rates^⁠5 but also helps the battery warm gradually as it charges.

For most 2024 and newer Volkswagen EV models^⁠6, you can enable Battery Optimization to help prepare the high-voltage battery for DC fast charging. This feature is designed to be used right before charging at a fast charger and can be managed in the Charging Settings menu.

You have two options:

• Manual activation^⁠7: Turn it on in the infotainment system before heading to a DC fast charger.
• Automatic activation: If you set an active route to a DC fast charging station in the navigation system^⁠8, the vehile will automatically begin preheating the battery on the way. 

TIP: If the battery is already at its optimal temperature, the Battery Optimization option may not appear in the infotaiment menu, as no additional preheating is needed. 

Heating and cooling any vehicle requires energy. For EV's, that energy comes from the high voltage battery, so using climate controls can reduce your driving range.

Aside from bundling up in colder weather, here are a few smart ways to stay warm while conserving energy:

• Use auto climate to regulate cabin temperature and avoid unnecessary heating cycles.
• If equipped, opt for heated seats or steering wheel instead of max heat and fan speeds.
• Preheat while plugged in, as mentioned earlier, to save power.

TIP: If the battery is already at its optimal temperature, the Battery Optimization option may not appear in the infotaiment menu, as no additional preheating is needed. 

Buildup from ice, snow, and other road debris (like dirt and salt) isn’t just annoying to look at—it affects your vehicle’s health, longevity, and driving performance. It can interfere with your driver assistance systems by blocking various sensors and cameras. And most importantly, it could affect your visibility while driving.

Apart from monitoring your local weather forecast, here are some other things you can do:

• After parking, place your windshield wipers in service mode to prevent them from freezing to the windshield. 
• Regularly check your windshield washer fluid levels and when possible, refill with washer fluid rated for lower temperatures before inclement weather.
• Use the rearview camera washer function to keep your EV's rear camera clean.
• If equipped, use the heated windshield to help you clear ice and show
• When possible, keep your door handles clean and dry (especially after snow or freezing rain), as this can help prevent them from freezing

TIP: If you find yourself with frozen doors, don't force them open. Use remote precondtioning^⁠11 to warm the vehicle gently and melt the ice. 

Vehicles are meant to be driven. But if you need to park your EV for a few days or weeks, here's some important tips to help keep it winter-ready:

• Keep it plugged into an AC charger (Level 1 or 2) with a minimum and maximum charge level set to maintain battery health.
• Set a maximum charge limit (around 70%) to avoid overcharging.
• As noted earlier, avoid deep discharge— when your EV is parked for a prolonged period, try not to let the battery drop below 40% by setting a minimum charge level, especially in extreme cold. 

With a little planning and the right tools, winter driving in your Volkswagen EV is truly snow worries.