Top 5 Tips for Your First Winter as an Electric Vehicle Owner

And Where to Find a VW Electric Car for Sale at a Volkswagen Dealer Near You

Every time we get winter weather here in Utah, you begin to see some drivers come out of the woodwork who weren’t prepared for the change in road conditions. Either that, or they’re just not especially skilled at driving in snowy or icy conditions. Whatever the case may be, driving in winter weather can be scary stuff if you don’t know what you’re doing.

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, more than 116,000 people are injured per year due to winter weather-related incidents. Not only is this bad news for drivers and their vehicles, but it also affects anyone who happens to be traveling on that particular road or highway.

If this is your first year as an electric vehicle owner or are planning on becoming one, there are ways to mitigate your risk when engaging in winter weather driving. Consider the following tips and best practices when facing winter this year as an EV owner. Once we go over that, we’ll fill you in on where to find a VW electric car for sale from your local Volkswagen dealer here in Utah.

#1 – Allot at Least Ten Minutes to Thaw Your Car Out

Not having a garage can really add time to your morning when the temperatures dip and snow is on the ground. What’s more, pulling out with snow or ice over your windows is unsafe for you and the drivers around you.

To ensure that your electric vehicle is in winter-ready condition, give it plenty of time to warm up so that all your windows have a chance to defrost. The great thing about new electric cars from Volkswagen is that they include a remote start feature. You can securely start your vehicle from the comfort of your own home. Additionally, the VW electric car for sale has comfort features such as heated seats and heated steering wheel.

#2 – Be Mindful of Your Driving Range

According to research conducted by Consumer Reports, extremely cold weather does have an effect on driving range. They report that when the temperature is 20°F or colder, max driving range can be reduced by as much as 20 percent. However, this is not a problem that is specific to electric vehicles. In fact, Energy Saver reports that cold weather can reduce fuel economy on traditional cars by as much as 24 percent.

The good news is that reduced mileage on the new VW electric car for sale shouldn’t be an issue if you keep your battery charged or mostly charged. On a full battery, the VW ID.4 (Pro model) gets up to 275 miles on a single charge. Unless you plan on doing some long-distance cold weather driving, reduced mileage shouldn’t pose an issue. Just be mindful of it the next time we get a cold front.

#3 – Make Sure You’re Using the Right Tires

The average annual snowfall in Utah clocks in around 78 inches annually, which means that driving in snow is an absolute certainty. To ensure that your electric vehicle is adequately prepared to hit the roads, we highly recommend switching over to snow tires. They are specifically designed to grip snowy and icy surfaces and are made out of a specialized rubber that is meant to endure cold conditions.

#4 – Set Your Electric Vehicle to Snow Mode

The great thing about the new VW electric car for sale is that it comes with different driving modes for different terrain types and conditions. One of the driving modes is snow mode, which allows drivers to better handle snowy and icy terrain when engaged.

When snow mode is on for the VW ID.4, the car signals the transmission to upshift earlier in the power cycle, resulting in superior traction on tricky roads. However, should the vehicle detect slippage, the Traction Control System (TCS) activates, reducing power to the affected tire and redistributing it to the other three.

#5 – Drive Carefully

The VW ID.4 is loaded with all sorts of safety features and technology to ensure you can handle snowy terrain and stay safe while traveling. Both the IQ.DRIVE suite of features and 4Motion all-wheel drive come standard with the new VW electric car for sale. However, the thing you don’t want to do is push the limits of these features using unsafe winter weather driving habits.

You can greatly reduce the risk of getting in a fender bender or losing traction by simply going slower. That means driving slower, turning slower, and changing lanes and merging slower. You’ll also want to use a more gradual style of braking to ensure your car doesn’t slide forward.

Ready to Step into an Electric Vehicle? Visit Your Local Volkswagen Dealer in Utah!

The great thing about the new VW electric car for sale is that it combines performance with future forward design and features, all for a low price the average car buyer can afford. New electric cars are steadily taking up more of the overall vehicle market due to the low cost of ownership and the empowerment they give drivers because they no longer need to pay for gas.

The VW ID.4 just so happens to be one of the most celebrated electric vehicles in the entire EV lineup, earning the 2021 World Car of the Year Award during its debut. To see it for yourself and take it for a test drive, simply stop by your local Volkswagen dealer at VW SouthTowne, conveniently located at 11000 South 290 West in South Jordan.

Not yet in the market for new electric cars? As the leading Volkswagen dealer in Utah, we carry a wide variety of new cars, used cars, and certified pre-owned vehicles that have undergone a 100+ point inspection. You can also find more great deals on VW products and services in our specials section, such as our $0 due at signing, $0 security deposit, and zero payments for the first four months promotion.

For more info or to set up an appointment for a test drive, please call (801) 988-5825, or you can email us directly using the contact form on our website.

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