Winter safety: Practical tips for petrol, hybrid and electric car drivers

Batteries – petrol cars

All cars have a battery – and all batteries are affected by cold weather. There are technical explanations relating to thermal properties of different battery chemistries, but for petrol cars – and mild hybrids that use a small battery to make the engine more efficient – the upshot is the chemical reactions slow down and they have to work harder to turn the engine.

In turn, this means batteries tend to drain more quickly in winter. Which means it pays to keep a closer eye on battery health, particularly when overnight temperatures start to get into low single digits, and particularly if the car battery is a few years old.

In most modern cars, the battery light on the dash will stay lit after ignition if the car’s sensors indicate a low state of charge.

To be sure, an inexpensive multimeter is an easy way to check the battery’s status – a healthy reading usually between 12.4 and 12.7 volts. Alternatively if the car is due for a service, ask the technician for a battery health check.

Batteries: plug-in hybrids and fully electric cars

Extended periods of colder weather can impact battery range for both plug-in hybrid and fully electric vehicles for the same reason.

But there are some simple ways to maximise all-electric miles within Volvo PHEVs and EVs.

Preheating the car when it is still plugged in is a good start. After that, using the heated steering wheel and heated seats is more energy efficient than heating the whole cabin.

Volvo Cars’ EVs also come with a Range Assistant function, so that, when battery charge drops below 50 per cent, climate control is automatically adjusted to preserve range.

Regardless of season, avoiding deep discharging and overcharging will help keep the battery in top condition – meaning optimal driving range for longer.

Tyres

A good grip on the road is essential, especially in colder, darker and wetter conditions – and just as batteries are affected by different temperatures, so are tyres, with pressure dropping in colder weather.

Ensuring correct tyre pressure helps to ensure a better contact between the tyre and the road, improving control and reducing the risk of accidents. It also means tyres are less likely to wear unevenly, increasing longevity – and saving money. Likewise fuel efficiency.

Volvo cars are equipped with a sophisticated Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) that continuously monitors the pressure of all four tyres – but if a manual check is required, this guide explains how to do it.

If tyre tread is getting close to the legal limit (at least 1.5mm across the entire band of the tyre), or if there is any obvious damage – cuts in the rubber, bulges, cracking or discolouration, it’s definitely time to change the tyres.

If the tyres appear to be wearing unevenly, ask a Volvo technician to check wheels are correctly aligned and balanced.

Wipers, screenwash, sensors

Running out of screenwash in muddier conditions, or driving in a torrential downpour with worn-out wiper blades, are also easily avoidable – but equally easy mistakes to make.

Meanwhile, extra dirt on winter roads can obscure sensors, which can affect safety features and driving assistants.

Hence regularly checking wiper blades – which are easy to replace at home – and topping up screen wash is a must. Likewise wiping any dirt or dust from sensors and cameras using a soft cloth.

Get a safety check

Most of the above checks and routines can – and should – be carried out by any driver. But things like checking brakes and suspension are best left to trained Volvo Cars technicians.

If in doubt, contact your local Volvo retailer.