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It’s cold. So cold. But life doesn’t stop in the cold, and neither does your EV. Winter weather can present unique obstacles for your electric vehicle that don’t often affect gas-engined ones, and you must know how to tackle them. So we compiled everything there is to know about EV winter survival!

Unlike combustion engines, batteries are indeed negatively affected by winter, or at least to a significantly greater extent. You also need to consider your charging habits and where you park your vehicle. And traction is something every car lover must understand when the roads get slippery. We’re not necessarily debunking EV myths here; we’re only providing straight facts on electric car performance (as well as general driving and car ownership tips) during winter. So, let’s dive in and ensure your EV is winter-ready!

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Maximizing range in cold weather

At temperatures below 32°F (freezing), battery chemistry functions all slow down, reducing how fast your battery can charge and discharge. Some battery compositions are more susceptible to degraded performance than others. At extremely low temperatures, the electrolyte can freeze, and your battery might be unable to discharge. Charging at low temperatures can also reduce your battery’s life span.

It’s important to note that battery pre-heating is common in electric vehicles, and most will not let you charge before the battery has heated sufficiently. Batteries also generate their heat when you drive. However, note that range may still take a hit as your energy consumption may rise with your reliance on climate controls and heating.

You will lose range. As little as 3% but can be as drastic as 25% to 30%. Whether you’re driving a Tesla or Audi E-Tron, any lithium battery loses range in weather below freezing. The degradation in performance should you find yourself with a nickel-metal battery or perhaps a dinosaur with a lead-acid one.

EV battery winter solutions

Some positive news is that there are solutions to improve your winter battery performance.

•  Precondition your EV (arguably the most important thing!): Although your car will probably do this before charging, it can help to precondition your EV before this. You can do this using your vehicle’s app, smart home system, or even the car’s infotainment.
• Park in a garage: Removing your electric car from complete cold weather exposure does help. Parking in a heated garage is an even better option. 
•  Use a winter car cover: Parking outside is the only option for many people. If that’s you, a winter car cover is your best bet. Yes, more high-tech solutions are coming, but this can prevent your vehicle from freezing over and further reducing battery temperatures.
•  Warm your EV while charging: Heating your seats and cabin is essential. Warm up while charging is the best way to do this without reducing range.

Winter tires (duh!)

All-season vs all-weather tires

Winter tires are necessary for those in colder states, but there’s more to tires than just the rubber that meets the road.

All-season tires offer traction in light snow, and some top-tier offerings can fare far better than others, but they’re generally not usable for especially deep snow, ice, and below-freezing weather. Anything below 45°F means it’s time to switch to a more effective tire. 

All-weather tires are better than all-season tires if you live in states with freezing temperatures. Think of them as all-seasons with a marginally broader spread of talents. A more aggressive tread pattern means you get excellent traction in snow and no hydroplaning in melting conditions. The caveat is that these tires are noisier and don’t offer equal performance compared to summer tires. They’re also still not as good as snow tires in winter, and tread life is worse than all-season tires.

Studded vs. non-studded snow tires 

Let’s talk about the real deal. Snow tires are the ultimate winter tire for snow, ice, rain, and temperatures below freezing. The main issue is that these tires are unusable in hotter conditions, so you must switch them out in the summer.

Studded snow tires offer extra traction in icy conditions. The metal studs dig into the ice, are generally the safest option when the roads are icy, and can withstand extremely harsh winter conditions. Non-studded snow tires are just as usable for winter as studded snow tires, albeit with reduced traction when ice is on the road. Not all states allow studded snow tires, and some only allow rubber studs.

Winter tire maintenance

Not all winter tires are the same. On average, electric vehicles weigh more than gas cars, increasing tire wear, specifically during winter. Choose an extra load (XL) winter tire for your EV to prevent this.

Make sure to check your winter tire tread before setting off. A great way to do this is by using a quarter; it’s time to replace the tire If you see the top of George Washington’s head. Regularly checking your tire pressure in the winter is also vital because the air is denser, which lowers pressure. 

All-wheel drive

Power to the car, people. The basis of all-wheel drive is that it powers all four wheels. Four-wheel drive functions similarly with a different mechanism, but the gist is that you get more traction on slippery surfaces. Winter tires will improve the safety of your vehicle in the colder months; all-wheel drive is that additional step for surviving winter.

It’s important to note the power of AWD systems is significantly reduced without winter tires. Many AWD cars will not help you escape a jam if your vehicle gets stuck, nor will it help you stop and turn since there’s no traction from the ill-equipped tires. That is not to say it is entirely useless in winter, but don’t go out and buy an AWD car if you don’t already have one; winter tires will do just fine.

However! Should you fancy the extra driven wheels, consider the viable options below. Heck, we have pictures and videos of them doing this exact kind of driving.

Polestar 2: see prices at CarGurus Mustang Mach-E GT AWD: see prices at CarGurus Tesla Model 3 AWD Long Range: see prices at CarGurus Rivian R1T: see prices at CarGurus

No winter tires — no problem

Winter is coming! But sometimes, life happens, and winter tires are not an option. Thankfully, there are alternatives to help you get by if you can’t score a set of winter rubber or all-weathers, ones that can be totally transformative and still save your skin when it gets really nasty outside. Some of your options are:

Autosock snow socks are the perfect winter traction tool for sports cars and emergencies. These textile wheel covers pull over your wheels just like a sock. Super quick, super traction!

See it at Amazon

Snow chains are metal chains that attach to your wheels. It’s a tried and true solution; you can buy these as a fixed set instead of buying them yourself. Even though these are an effective solution for winter traction, snow chains can be quite challenging to install.

See it at Amazon

Anti-skid tendons are similar to snow chains but forgo the old-school metal for plastic. You could also opt for long-cable ties as they perform the same function.

See it at Amazon

How to drive in winter

So you’ve put your winter tires on and are ready to take off in your super quiet EV. Another critical point about driving in winter is the driving part. Winter brings a significant loss of tire traction, which is the resistance between your rubber and the road. Too much resistance and you lose speed; too little, you start to slide and lose control of the vehicle.

Here are some extra winter driving tips:

• Keep your headlights on for improved visibility and to spot black ice easily.
• Keep your wipers elevated when parked so they don’t freeze to the glass
•  Increase your following distance to a minimum of five seconds.
•  Brake more gradually and accelerate gently.
•  If you hit black ice, take your foot off the gas pedal, steer toward the spin until you regain traction, and do not slam on the brakes. If you find your EV’s brake regen to be quite aggressive, consider dialing it to a Medium or Low setting if it’s adjustable.

Surviving a winter emergency

Let’s discuss what you should keep in your emergency kit and what to do if you get stuck. And this goes for all of you, EV or ICE powertrains!

Don’t leave your car. The worst thing you can do is stumble into a winter storm and become stuck outside your vehicle. Run your car every ten minutes for heat, but (and here’s one for the ICE car owners we know are still reading this) crack the window for fresh air to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning. Check for any snow that can clog your vehicle’s exhaust.

Keep a kit for emergencies. The National Weather Service recommends these items:

• Flashlight and Extra Batteries
•  Blankets/Sleeping Bag
•  Extra Clothing
•  First Aid Kit
•  Non-perishable food like granola bars
•  Kitty Litter for traction
•  Snow Shovel
•  Bottled Water
•  Cell Phone & Charger
•  Ice Scraper
•  with Brush
•  Booster Cables
•  Flares/Triangles

Acceleramota recommends staying at home

The safest place during winter is your house. There are those situations where you have to venture out into the icy depths, but if you don’t need to travel, don’t go out! Winter expeditions are risky even if you take the correct precautions and drive safely. So stay inside where possible and cozy up for more Acceleramota!

Smartphones are extensions of many peoples’ arms. That has made it increasingly important for automakers to offer phone mirroring technologies in new vehicles, such as Apple CarPlay. The interface projects a familiar iPhone-like display on top of the standard infotainment system, giving users the ability to stream music and maps, use voice controls, and more. This overview will help you get a feel for Apple CarPlay’s functionality and how it could be a useful feature in your next car.

And for those interested in seeing if the grass is greener on the other side, we got this piece up for Android Auto and Android Automotive, as well. Yes, they’re related. No, they’re not the same.

Everything on Android Automotive and Android Auto

What does Apple CarPlay do?

Akin to Android Auto and Android-based phones, Apple CarPlay brings some of the iPhone’s most commonly used apps to the in-vehicle infotainment system. Some vehicles offer wireless connectivity, while others require a wired connection, but the functionality is the same regardless of how it’s set up. Though it might seem counterintuitive, CarPlay is intended to reduce the common distractions caused by using a smartphone while driving by placing most used functions closer to the driver’s line of sight.

Though CarPlay-capable vehicles have manufacturer-designed infotainment systems, the Apple interface overlays the stock software. That means that certain functions still rely on the vehicle’s built-in hardware, but the Apple software handles the visual and interactive components. A great example is with phone calls, as most vehicles offer hands-free calling through Bluetooth. While Apple CarPlay’s call system still relies on Bluetooth, the phone interface looks and feels just like an iPhone’s.

CarPlay can also supplement vehicle technology and add functionality to lesser-equipped models. The iPhone has had GPS navigation capabilities for as long as anyone can remember, but navigation isn’t a feature lavished on every new vehicle. CarPlay enables navigation in vehicles without the function and can bring other mapping apps, such as Waze and Google Maps.

Getting started with Apple CarPlay

Unlike past technologies, which could require complicated setup and configuration, CarPlay is mostly a plug-and-play operation. If your car has wired Apple CarPlay, plug the device into the data USB port, and the vehicle should automatically recognize the phone as offering CarPlay. You may be asked to agree to share the device’s information with your vehicle, and Apple delivers a popup message on the device, also asking for confirmation.

Wireless connections offer similar ease of use, but there may be a few extra steps to getting started. You’ll have to turn on Bluetooth on your device and make sure that it’s discoverable to outside connections. Once you’ve selected the vehicle and begun the connection from your device, there is often a code or number that you’ll need to confirm between the two devices. 

Once set up, CarPlay should connect automatically each time you enter and start the vehicle. Depending on the model, you should also have multiple ways to access the native infotainment system, either by using a home button or an on-screen icon.

Siri works with Apple CarPlay

Siri works with Apple CarPlay, even if your car has built-in voice controls. The digital assistant offers many in-vehicle functions, including calls and text messages. Siri can read incoming messages and take dictation for outgoing messages, though it can sometimes be challenging to get the right wording or punctuation with voice commands. Similarly, users can make and take calls using Siri, and the function usually works with vehicles’ built-in voice command buttons. You can also get directions, play music, set calendar reminders, and get weather updates by asking simple questions.

Turning off Apple CarPlay

Turning off CarPlay is as easy as unplugging your phone, but there is a way to disable the vehicle connection going forward. You’ll need to head to your iPhone’s settings app and locate the CarPlay menu by searching. You can remove the vehicle from the list of CarPlay-approved connections there, but you’ll have to go through the initial setup again if you want to reconnect.

Cars that have Apple CarPlay

The vast majority of new vehicles come with Apple CarPlay, leaving only the most outdated, cheapest models without it. Some automakers charge extra for the functionality, and some may only offer Apple CarPlay without Android Auto, but it’s hard to find a new car without the feature. If you’re looking for a used car, many started offering the tech in 2017 and 2018, but you’ll need to check the specific vehicle’s options list to be sure. Apple provides a list of every CarPlay-compatible vehicle right here if you have any questions. 

Big, longtime users of CarPlay include but absolutely, sure as heck are not limited to: BMW, Volkswagen, Ford, Chevrolet, Hyundai, Acura, Honda, Subaru, and pretty much mostly everyone else under the sun. But again, never hurts to check first.

Should you wish to add CarPlay to a vehicle that never included it, retrofit kits do exist, from Amazon to aftermarket parts retailers. Such goodies range from full-on infotainment system upgrades and screen replacements to more simplistic, dashboard-mounted nav screens.

Apple CarPlay FAQs

Does Apple CarPlay use my phone’s data connection?

Unless your car has a Wi-Fi hotspot, yes, your iPhone will use data for maps, traffic information, streaming music, and more. You can play downloaded podcasts and music without a data connection, but most CarPlay functions require one.

Can I add Apple CarPlay to a vehicle that doesn’t have it?

Depending on the age of the vehicle, maybe. Some newer models tie several functions into their infotainment systems, making it difficult or impossible to change things. Older cars with CD head units or even a cassette system should be pretty easy to retrofit. Having said that, some companies have devised methods of “projecting” CarPlay over a factory interface, but they’re not available for every model and may be clunky to use. 

Is there a monthly fee for Apple CarPlay?

While some automakers desperately want to charge owners for ongoing tech features, Apple CarPlay is free to use. That said, you may have subscription fees and other charges associated with specific apps or functions, so it’s a good idea to make sure you know what’s coming.

Can I use an iPad with Apple CarPlay?

Though it might seem like a no-brainer for CarPlay to offer iPad support, the system only works with iPhones. Beyond the physical differences between tablets and phones, there are software differences, and Apple has not extended CarPlay support to the iPad.

The traditional auto mag as we know it is slowly fading. Not out of existence but rather evolving to take on a new cultural landscape. Social media and video dominate, leaving room for written works to be more personal and experiential, almost like diaries of one’s trials and triumphs like some of the best publications have done and still do. It’s their way of further humanizing themselves in a sea of content farms and cookie-cutter formulas. Well, it’s time to get in on that action. Enter Saturday Morning Car Tune, your peek into the Acceleramota crew’s automotive exploits.

Come take a gander as we bring our passion away from the keyboard and into real-world experiences. In the garage or on the street. On the road or at the track. From how-to’s, track days, road trips, garage builds, car purchases, and more. Even if it’s a “bad” story, like perhaps a tale of a colossal screw-up we’ve had overcooking a corner on track or losing every 10-mil in our garage to The Great Void, it’s still a story worth telling.

Check in every so often to see me adapt to living with a track-built Subaru BRZ as my one and only car and if it’s still competent enough to conquer daily life (or just wait for me to tear the splitter off on a curb). Or read about Peter Nelson nursing an old B5 S4 back to life while taking to the race tracks to prove it’s the E82 BMW 128i that is made in God’s image, as previously documented at The Drive. Maybe Michael Van Runkle has some words to say about his colorful garage history dotted in Porsches and Monteros, or perhaps Nathan Meyer can walk you through the deets of South African car culture from his home in Port Elizabeth. I’m sure the cult of big turbo Volkswagen Rabbits down there have their own stories to tell.

Or, if you enjoy masochism, I’m sure our supreme ruler, Gabe Carey, has some colorful words to say about the wonderful world of Alfa Romeo ownership and his Guilia Quadrifoglio that just refuses to die. Perpetuating the stereotypes there, aren’t we, boss?

Kidding. Don’t shitcan me, please.

And who knows? We’ll likely spin this off into a social media-friendly video series as well, which you would most definitely see on our Instagram and TikTok. We’ll get there. Psst, give us a follow on there. Will ‘ya?

Think of this new corner of our site as a way to take a small step away from the SEO and the industry news, instead taking a day to focus on ourselves and what makes us who we are as members of the car community, dedicated to our hobby and bound by passion. It’s our contribution to the internet to show that we’re not mere content drones and that we’re real, real enthusiasts and real people with real experiences, and we can’t wait for you to tune in to read all about it.

When it comes to new car ownership, leasing makes a lot of sense. If it fits your lifestyle (key distinguisher, by the way), leasing allows you to continually swap to a new car every couple of years with what’s generally considered a low down payment and low monthly payment. As long as you stay under the agreed-upon mileage limit, it could be quite beneficial to your monthly expenses.

But there’s another benefit of leasing that isn’t always talked about. If you’re inclined to buy the car—either cash or with finance—at the end of the term, you might be in a situation where the car has depreciated so much that you could own it for significantly cheaper than otherwise, such as off the lot as certified pre-owned. Not an uncommon trope with luxury cars. It all depends on the car’s residual value, and if that’s pretty darn low, this is worth considering. 

Especially if it’s a luxury vehicle made by a brand with historically hilarious depreciation. Let’s go over a few candidates that are worth rooting for the demise of.

Jaguar F-Type

Kickin’ it off with a bang! Fingers-crossed, not the mechanical type. According to CarEdge.com, Jaguar has the worst residual value at 72.19%. This means the car lost just under 28% of its value after just three years. Who knows, it could drop even further—drop baby drop!

The F-Type is no exception, and this cat is definitely worth putting up with for three-plus years as its supercharged, 444-horsepower 5.0-liter V8 and rear-wheel drive is so incredibly-freaking fun. It’s also great to look at, quite luxurious inside, and its overall handling is quite good. There’s a little bit of aftermarket support for its engine, too, so once that horsepower figure no longer impresses, there’s room for more.

Currently, a 2024 R-Dynamic P450 RWD—the least expensive coupe model—comes out to $79,175. Lob 28% off, and that brings it down to just over $57,000. Still a decent chunk of change, but chock-full of equity in the looks and performance department. Which will also age more gracefully than many other modern cars.

Mercedes-Benz E 450 4Matic All-Terrain

Mercedes-Benz’s residual value is a little better than Jaguar’s, but still a whopping 78%, meaning it lost 22% of its value after three years.

So, why not spend those three or more years in opulent, E-Class comfort? The E 450 All-Terrain has an incredibly good ride quality and handles quite well for its class and stature. Thanks to the All-Terrain bit, it handles itself surprisingly well off-road—though, don’t expect to do any rock crawling. Finally, its turbocharged three-liter inline-six puts out 362 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque, so it has ample power to get sideways in the dirt.

A 2023 model commands around $75,000, right before a new generation for 2024, which could bode extra well for depreciation—makes you wonder if even deeper, sweeter deals could be had with remaining 2023 stock in 2024. Based on the above 22% drop, $58,500 could be the figure to keep in mind after three years of faithful German luxury.

Alfa Romeo Giulia Ti

Right in the middle of the F-Type and All-Terrain is the Alfa Romeo Giulia, which has a residual value of about 75%. This means that once it adds 30,000 to 45,000 miles to its odometer, 25% of its value flies out the window. The math isn’t perfectly accurate, as the figures I found are based on 2021 numbers or about two years ago. But still, it’s fun to think about, and surely not a whole lot different now.

To calm our figures down a touch, let’s use the more value-minded Ti trim as an example, which comes to $44,685 out the door. At this level, you get rear-wheel drive, 280 horsepower, and 306 pound-feet of torque out of an entertaining turbo-four, an eight-speed automatic gearbox, and a 0-60 time of just five seconds. Not bad at all. Plus, it’s better looking than many other compact luxury cars in its segment; you’re more likely to look back at it every time you park it.

After three years, the value could drop to as little as $33,500, possibly more. Three-years worth of $600 payments—as promoted on Alfa’s website at the moment—is $21,600, so imagine the number that the leasing company might give you after knocking off that chunk.

Do you have equity in a leased car?

If some of the numbers above don’t seem all that appealing, there’s one more factor to consider: Lease equity. According to Leasehackr, this is defined as the car’s payoff number against the potential price that you sell the car for. Meaning, you decide to keep the car post-lease and then resell it for a potential profit.

If a car were to beat depreciation—meaning be worth more money—that money could be used for something else, such as added to a down payment on another vehicle. If it’s worth $35,000, yet the lease company figured it’d be worth $29,000 at the end of the term, that’s potentially $6,000. While this was definitely a thing over the past couple of years with supply shortages, the market has started cooling off, so there’s less chance of it happening now. Though, you never know. 

Regardless, it’s good to know you have options at the end of a lease. You could either take advantage of depreciation and own a car for less than market value, or potentially make a tiny piece of coin at the end and put it into something else.

There’s no doubt that car ownership is expensive. Whether it’s the initial purchase, registration, and insurance, keeping it fueled up, or regular maintenance, nobody would say it’s a financially burden-free part of our daily lives. Though, there are a handful of methods of making car ownership a little easier on the wallet, which range from saving a few hundred dollars, to potentially thousands, and all via something that many regard as a financial (and sometimes emotional) burden in and of itself: Income tax.

Though, there’s a big caveat that doesn’t apply to everybody: Most of the following money-saving methods discussed here are only applicable to self-employed individuals. You know, those of us who need to fill out much more than the IRS’ good ol’ 1040 EZ form. However, there are still some great benefits for any employment status—let’s outline four ways that you could potentially write off car ownership.

Gross vehicle weight rating

Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) is a measurement of the entire weight that a vehicle’s chassis can handle, including its own curb weight plus any passengers and all their stuff. Then, thanks to the IRS’ Section 179 for self-employed folks, a trunk and/or bed full of cash, too.

According to tax professionals, Jackson Hewitt, the qualifying GVWR for Section 179 heavy vehicles is over 6,000 lbs. This allows you to potentially write off all of the purchase price. There are a few caveats, though, such as only qualifying for the year of purchase. After that, it follows standard depreciation guidelines.

The best example is the current Mercedes-AMG G63, also referred to as the G-Wagon, G-Wagen, or Big Angry Boxy Boy, and its GVWR is 7,056 lbs. This brute’s become the poster child of rolling around in a big luxury truck for surprisingly little money… as long as those miles are being accounted for business use, of course.

For more on the specifics of this loophole—er, self-employment benefit—consult a tax professional. I’m just here to help get the thinking juices flowing.

General business expenses in motion

Section 179 requires some finesse with the rules that are probably best left for an accountant. But there are other easier-to-follow income tax benefits for those who claim business use of their ride, or rides.

By this, we mean such expenses as: Car insurance, gas, charging, tolls, parking, maintenance and tune-ups, registration fees, interest paid on car payments, depreciation, as well as lease payments and fees. These can really help a small business owner out, as long as they take all of the combined figures above and multiply them by the percentage of business use of the car.

When it comes to figuring out that latter bit, it’s easy: How many miles are spent behind the wheel for business use? If 5,000 miles were used for business, and you drove 10,000 miles that year, that’s 50 percent. But it also gets tricky, as one could come up with some truly creative ways to justify such a percentage. 

Again, consult someone with the proper certification in this arena. Especially if you’re including the miles you drove while trying to figure out a weird noise that your car developed, and might be able to write a blog about… which I may or may not have considered doing myself.

Standard mileage rate

This one’s pretty simple and straightforward: Any mileage traveled for work in your personal car—that hasn’t been reimbursed by an employer—could be up for grabs on your yearly income tax. The best part about this deduction is anybody can claim it. You don’t have to be self-employed like all of the write-offs mentioned above, though activities like commuting don’t count. It’s best to visit the hyperlinked IRS website above and learn exactly what kind of mileage counts.

To claim it, multiply the miles traveled by the IRS’ standard mileage rate, which is 65.5 cents per mile for 2023. It may not seem like much, but it could certainly add up, as 1,000 miles traveled for work could be a hearty $665 deduction. But once again, consult a tax professional before running the numbers and penciling this one in on your yearly income tax documents.

Electric vehicle incentives

Tax credits on electric vehicles have been a thing for a few years now, and for any employment status, but 2023’s a bit different. According to the IRS, you could receive as much as a $7,500 credit for purchasing a new EV in 2023, which certainly ain’t nothing. There are a few qualifiers, such as whether it meets the IRS’ defined critical minerals requirement, how many kilowatt hours the battery possesses, as well as some limitations on household income—it gets a little complicated.

Then, MSRP comes into play as well. Vans, SUVs, and pickup trucks can’t exceed $80,000, and any other type of vehicle can’t exceed $55,000. This isn’t the greatest news, as new, non-truck EV prices can exceed that $55,000 figure pretty quickly in 2023.

But you don’t necessarily have to buy new to get a little money back: Used vehicle purchases can qualify for up to $4,000 in tax credits, and PHEVs get a little love, too.

Finally, there are other state-based incentives out there as well. California’s Clean Vehicle Rebate Program was a thing up until recently, which gave consumers who purchased or leased conventional EVs or PHEVs up to $7,500 in tax rebates. There’s no word on whether it will come back, but there are still more localized rebates to look into, so surf the web and see if you qualify based on your own state, county, or city.

Proceed cautiously

If there’s one overarching theme to all of this, it’s to be cautious. Not only so you don’t get in trouble with the IRS, but also so that I don’t get in trouble with you and your lawyer. Use this as a jump-off point, think about how your vehicle’s use could save you a little money on your taxes, save your receipts, record your mileage, and consult a tax professional before diving in. There are some other extra-fine-print methods, too, so be sure to ask plenty of questions.

For even more context regarding writing off vehicle expenses, The Smoking Tire Podcast had a great chat with a CPA about the subject a year or so ago. Check it out: