Motoring experts reveal five ways to boost your electric car's range this winter

• Industry data shows EV range can drop by up to 30% in cold conditions

• Experts at Vertu share their advice for maximising an EV’s winter performance

The first frost on the windscreen and the biting cold of a winter morning can bring a familiar sense of ‘range anxiety’ for many electric car owners.

As temperatures drop, the efficiency of an EV’s battery can be significantly reduced by up to 30%, leaving drivers with less range than they are used to for their daily journeys.

This is because the chemical reactions inside the battery are less efficient at lower temperatures, and more energy is required to heat the cabin.

So, to help, the automotive experts at Vertu have shared five ways that electric car owners get the most range out of their vehicles.

1. Precondition your vehicle before you leave

Getting into a freezing car and immediately turning the heating to full is a significant drain on the battery's charge, using up valuable energy that could be used for driving. This can noticeably reduce your available range before you have even started your journey.

If your vehicle has a preconditioning or pre-heating feature, use it while the car is still plugged into your home charger. This allows the car to warm both the battery and the cabin to a comfortable temperature using power from the grid, not from the car's battery, ensuring you start every journey with the maximum possible range.

2. Use heated seats and steering wheel over cabin heating

Heating the entire volume of air inside a car cabin is one of the single biggest consumers of battery energy, second only to driving the car itself. Relying solely on the main blowers to stay warm is a sure-fire way to reduce your winter range.

The most efficient way to stay warm is to heat yourself directly. Use your car's heated seats and heated steering wheel as your primary source of warmth. These components use far less energy than the main climate control system and allow you to turn the cabin temperature down, preserving a significant amount of battery charge.

3. Check your tyre pressures when cold

As the air temperature drops, it becomes denser, which causes the pressure inside your car's tyres to decrease. Driving on under-inflated tyres increases their rolling resistance, meaning the car's motors have to use more energy to propel the car forwards, directly impacting efficiency.

Before you set off for the day, when the tyres are 'cold', check the pressures and inflate them to the manufacturer's recommended level. You can find the correct pressures on a sticker located inside the driver's door jamb. This simple check can make a surprising difference to your overall range.

4. Drive smoothly and use 'Eco' mode

Aggressive driving, with sharp acceleration and heavy braking, demands sudden, high bursts of power from the battery, which is an inefficient way to use its energy. This style of driving will deplete your charge much faster than smooth and steady progress.

To maximise your range, adopt a gentle driving style. Anticipate the road ahead to minimise the need for heavy braking and accelerate smoothly. Engage your car's 'Eco' mode, which is specifically designed to conserve energy by optimising the power delivery and climate control systems for maximum efficiency.

5. Keep your battery between 20% and 80%

While it might seem sensible to charge to 100% every night, this can actually degrade the battery's long-term health and overall efficiency, particularly in cold conditions. Similarly, regularly letting the battery level drop very low is also detrimental.

For day-to-day driving, it is best practice to set your car's charge limit to 80%. This helps to protect the battery's health and ensures it operates at its most efficient level. Only charge to 100% when you know you will need the absolute maximum range for a specific long journey.