Electric vehicle (EV) drivers have been warned to think twice before turning on hot air fans in cold weather.

Having a battery instead of an internal combustion engine (ICE) means EVs must use more electricity to generate their own heat.

Experts warn this could reduce energy consumption electric car batteries – especially older ones – and reduce their range.

Unlike petrol and diesel cars, EV owners cannot enjoy the luxury of “effectively free” heat that occurs as a byproduct of starting the engine in internal combustion engine vehicles.

Instead, they are forced to use a “more significant” amount of battery capacity to stay warm, reducing the distance they can travel.

The warning comes as Britons prepare for snowfall. Rain and winds up to 70 miles per hour as Storm Bert this weekend.

AA technical expert Greg Carter said: “All electrical systems struggle a bit in the cold. The main culprit for damage to the range is the heating system.”

He said most electric cars have a “helpful” preconditioning feature that should be used, allowing owners to program the vehicle to be warm and defrosted when they get in.

This, he said, is best done by using electricity from the charging point rather than draining the battery while driving.

Comparing EVs and ICE vehicles, he added: “Heat in ICE vehicles is a byproduct of their operation.

“A very small amount of electricity is used to power the blower, but the heat itself comes from the combustion, meaning it is effectively free.”

In contrast, heating the air in EVs requires a “more significant” amount of energy because there is no waste heat to use, he said.

RAC Foundation director Steve Gooding said icy temperatures would not pose a problem for actual charging of electric vehicles, but drivers would be left wondering whether to stay warm or not.

“What EV drivers need to consider, especially older drivers with lower range, is how they will warm up,” he said.

“A heated seat in a petrol or diesel car is a luxury, but in an electric vehicle it’s a better bet than turning on the fan, which requires a lot of battery energy to heat the air.

“In a car with an internal combustion engine, the hot air comes from the waste heat of the engine.”

The warning comes ahead of the second storm of the season, to be named by the Met Office, which will bring heavy rain and snow to areas including the north-east and north-west of England, the West Midlands, Yorkshire and much of England. Scotland.

The Met Office recorded -7.5°C at Warcop, Cumbria, on Tuesday night; this was about 10°C below the national average for this time of year.

The UK Health and Safety Agency has issued the first yellow cold weather health alert of the season in some areas, warning that falling temperatures could lead to a rise in deaths among vulnerable people, including the elderly.

Hundreds of schools were forced to close due to heavier-than-expected snow, while the RAC reported a sharp increase in breakdowns, with many motorists having their batteries fail due to the cold.

This uses up valuable battery stores and therefore reduces the range it can travel.

The government remains true to its commitments Gasoline car sales will be phased out by 2030.

This comes despite carmaker Nissan warning this week to Transport Secretary Louise Haigh that “urgent action” on strict EV sales quotas was needed to protect jobs and investment in the UK.

The request follows Ford’s announcement announcing plans to cut 800 jobs nationwide.

The ban was previously described as “terrible for Britain” by Vauxhall manufacturer Stellantis boss Carlos Tavares.

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