Enjoy the magic of Europe’s winter season: How to charge your EV in cold conditions

It's that time of year again: Meeting up with family and friends, visiting nicely decorated and invitingly illuminated cities, a delicious scent hangs in the air, the walking in the snow — the winter holiday season offers many good reasons to travel. Whether you're new to electric vehicles or a seasoned driver, our mission at IONITY is to get you to your destination as quickly and easily as possible. Using your electric vehicle during the colder months of the year is straightforward if you follow a few simple guidelines. So, here's a quick overview of how to get the most out of charging in winter. Have a safe journey!

Travel planning

Planning your trip in advance can save you time when travelling. We've put together six simple tips to consider before your next long-haul trip, as well as some special tricks for travelling in the colder months of the year.

Update the software of your vehicle

Electric vehicles are a bit like computers: From time to time they need an update that can improve the overall charging performance of the vehicle. So, before you set off on a long journey, make sure you have the latest software and firmware updates installed. Your car dealer can help you with this.

Plan your route in advance

At weekends and at the beginning or end of the winter holiday season, as well as on public holidays, there may be waiting times at the charging stations. Therefore, try to plan your charging stops in advance. If possible, charge your car at less busy times, e.g. early in the morning or late in the evening and during the week instead of at the weekend. If the outside temperature is low, you should expect a limited range and longer charging times. Bear in mind that bad weather and poor road conditions can restrict your speed and slow you down. Therefore, plan additional charging stops for long-distance journeys.

Download the IONITY App

If you like to pay for charging with the IONITY App, download it before you set off and enter your payment details in advance. This will save you time when you're at the station. You can also use the app as a backup in case your RFID or charging card doesn't work. You'll also see in real-time how many chargers are available at all IONITY stations with our app.

Check your RFID card or token

Check out compatibility with your mobility service provider (MSP) — most of them offer information about charging networks on their website. Make sure their charging service and your subscription include access to the IONITY high-power charging network.

Take the charging cable with you

All high-power chargers are equipped with charging cables. However, if you are charging at a slower charging station while travelling, you may need your own type 2 cable. A charging cable can also be helpful when charging at your destination.

Drive off with a full battery and preheat the car

If you set off from home in winter, start with a full battery. If possible, park your car in a garage or inside a car park and preheat the battery while it is still connected to the wall box. This will save you energy while driving and ensure that your battery is warmed up for subsequent charging. Check whether your car offers a timed preheating option so that your car is ready when you set off from home.

Precondition your battery before you get to the charger

To optimise your charging experience in winter, please check your car's documentation for a 'winter mode' or the option to condition your car by selecting your next charging stop in the navigation system. This will ensure that the battery is at an ideal temperature when it arrives at a charger, optimising the charging speed.

Arrival on site

There are more electric vehicles on the roads than ever before. During the winter holidays, this might lead to longer waiting times at the charging stations. Keep a few things in mind to get everyone back on the road as quickly and smoothly as possible.

When all charging stations are occupied

• Don't block traffic or parked cars while you wait.
• Remain patient and wait your turn.
• Think twice: Not every electric vehicle is able to utilise the full potential of high-power charging. If that's the case with your vehicle, you should consider using another charging station nearby.

When it's your turn

• Park within the markings in front of the charging stations.
• Please note electric cars have their power connections in different places, so be prepared for cars travelling forwards and backwards.

How to charge efficiently

Start charging at less than 20%

The lower the state of charge of your battery, the faster your electric vehicle will charge. Try to arrive at the charging stations with a state of charge (SOC) of less than 20% if your route allows this.

Stop charging at 80%

Your car will charge much more slowly once it has reached a charge level of 80%. Charging from 80 to 100% can take just as long as charging from 20 to 80%. So, if it is not absolutely necessary for your journey, charge up to 80% and continue your journey.

Consider time and range

Always pay attention to how much you really need to charge to reach your next journey and charging destination. It may also be a good idea to interrupt the charging process and drive off as soon as the charging power drops below 50 kW and slows down significantly.

Drive off immediately

Please make the charger available to other drivers and drive off as soon as you've charged your car.

Heat during charging

If your car is already at a comfortable temperature, very little energy is needed to maintain this temperature. This means that you should be cosy and warm in your car, even if you must wait until someone else has finished charging. Just make sure you keep an eye on the charge level. Heated seats warm you more efficiently than the car heater.

Successful charging

IONITY stations are fast and reliable. With our simple tips, which apply in both winter and summer, you'll ensure your charging process always starts successfully.

1. Unlock vehicle

Make sure that your electric vehicle is unlocked before you start the charging process. You can lock it as soon as charging starts and explore the various services on site.

2. Follow the instructions on the display

Follow the instructions on the charger display. If you're paying with RFID, you must first connect the cable to your car. Some of our chargers require you to press 'start' on the screen before you can use your RFID card. If you want to pay via the IONITY app, mobility service provider (MSP) apps or a QR code, always complete the payment first before plugging in the cable. This is important to avoid a timeout and to ensure that the session starts successfully.

3. Hold your RFID token or charge card to the reader

If your RFID token or card is not accepted you can pay via the smartphone app of your mobility service provider (MSP) or our IONITY app. Alternatively, you can scan the QR code on the charger. This will take you to a payment website where you can enter all your payment details.

4. Plug in the charging cable and hold it firmly

Plug the charging cable into your car and hold the plug firmly. As soon as you hear a clicking sound from the charger, you can release the plug. If the charging process still doesn't start or you need assistance in any other way, please contact our customer service team: We are there for you around the clock in 8 European languages. You'll find the hotline number directly on the charger.

Payment options

Paying with IONITY is just as straightforward as charging. See your options:

Mobility Service Provider (MSP)

You can charge and pay within the IONITY network via a contract with a mobility service provider (MSP). As a customer of these providers, you gain access to charging networks for electric vehicles, including IONITY. You are usually offered contactless payment options via RFID cards or tokens as well as smartphone apps.

Plug & Charge

Simply plug the cable of the charging station into your car and charge — this is possible with the Plug & Charge technology. Car manufacturers are gradually equipping their vehicles with it. IONITY already offers Plug & Charge to simplify charging and provide a safe and seamless charging experience. Please check with your manufacturer to see if they have equipped your car with Plug & Charge.

IONITY App

If you're frequently on the road, you can register for IONITY PASSPORT. Subscription options offer you full access to all charging stations in the European IONITY network. You pay a monthly access fee giving you access to a reduced rate per charged kWh. You can activate your subscription with the IONITY App.

QR Code

If you don't want to download our app, you can still use our chargers by scanning the QR code available on each individual charger.