It's a January morning in Riverhead. The driveway is glazed, the windshield is frosted over, and your Ioniq 5's range estimate reads lower than it did when you parked last night. Nothing is wrong with the car. Cold does that to every battery, and the winter advice from Riverhead Hyundai for EV owners is different from what gas-car drivers usually hear.
Set up your charging before the first freeze
At home
- Plug in whenever you're parked at home, even with plenty of charge left. A connected car can warm its battery and cabin with power from the wall instead of using up its own range.
- Schedule charging to finish shortly before you usually leave. A battery that just finished charging is still warm, and a warm battery drives and charges better.
- Check your cable and plug for cracks or a stiff, kinked cord. Cold makes insulation brittle, so coil the cable loosely and keep it off wet ground.
- Brush snow and ice away from the charge port door before it freezes shut.
On the road
- Save a few fast chargers along the roads you actually drive, like Route 58, the LIE heading west and Sunrise Highway toward the South Fork. Pick a backup for each one.
- If your model year supports battery preconditioning, set a fast charger as your navigation destination. That way the battery arrives warm enough to charge quickly.
- Get to a charger with charge to spare. Pulling in nearly empty on a frigid night leaves you no options if the station is busy or out of order.
Learn how cold changes your range
Cold slows the chemistry inside a lithium-ion battery, and heating the cabin draws on that same battery. Together, they mean fewer miles on a frigid morning than you'd get in September. Short trips around town take the biggest hit, because the car has to reheat a cold cabin from scratch each time.
Your range estimate is based on your recent driving, so it can swing quite a bit after a cold snap. Treat it as a starting point, not a promise, until temperatures settle.
- Warm up the cabin while the car is still plugged in, using Bluelink or the climate schedule in the car. You leave warm without spending range to get there.
- Use the heated seats and heated steering wheel if your trim has them. They warm you directly and use much less energy than heating all the air in the cabin.
- If your Ioniq 5 has a heat pump, let it do its job. It's built to heat the cabin more efficiently.
- Check tire pressure once a month. Cold air lowers it, and underinflated tires cost you both range and grip.
- Try Eco drive mode on long winter drives to even out power use.
Pack your winter emergency kit
Keep everything in one bin in the cargo area. That way it's always in the car, and it's easy to go through each fall.
Keep yourself warm and connected
- Wool blankets or a sleeping bag, plus spare hats, gloves and socks
- A portable battery pack for your phone, with the right cable
- A portable jump starter that works with a standard car battery
- A flashlight or headlamp with fresh batteries
- Bottled water, snacks and any medication you rely on
- A basic first-aid kit and reflective warning triangles
Keep the car moving
- Your portable charging cable, if one came with the car
- A long-handled snow brush and an ice scraper
- A compact shovel for digging out the wheels and the charge port
- Traction mats, or a bag of sand or cat litter
- Winter-rated washer fluid, since road salt coats a windshield fast
Your best traction upgrade doesn't go in the bin. Winter tires grip and stop much better on ice and packed snow than all-season tires do. For floor mats, cargo trays and other items made to fit the car, check out genuine Hyundai parts and accessories. Riverhead Hyundai carries certified genuine Hyundai parts.
Book a pre-winter service visit
Your Ioniq 5 has two batteries. The large high-voltage battery drives the car, and a small 12-volt battery wakes up its systems. If that small one is weak, the car may not power on even with a full charge. Cold weather is exactly when weak batteries tend to fail.
Ask the technicians to check:
- The small battery's health and connections
- Tire tread and pressure, or swap on your winter set
- Wiper blades and washer fluid
- Brakes. Regenerative braking means the regular brakes get little use, and brake rotors that sit unused can corrode in salty weather.
- The cabin air filter, so the defroster clears the glass quickly
- Any available software updates
Riverhead Hyundai is a full-service Hyundai dealership in Riverhead, so you can get the EV-specific items and the usual winter checks done in one visit. Go before the first hard freeze, and book a service visit while it's on your mind.
Check conditions before every winter drive
A minute of prep in the driveway can save you a lot of trouble on a dark stretch of the North Fork.
- Check the forecast and road reports. If a nor'easter is coming, decide early whether the trip can wait.
- Charge higher than usual before a long drive, like a run into the city or out to Montauk. Cold days call for more range to spare.
- Start warming up the car while it's still plugged in.
- Clear snow from the roof, hood, lights, mirrors and cameras. Snow over the front sensors can limit the driver-assistance features until it's cleared.
- Make sure your phone is charged and the kit bin is in the back.
- If you're heading out in a storm, tell someone your route and when you expect to arrive.
Once you're moving, leave extra following distance. An EV delivers power the moment you press the pedal, so ease onto it from a stop on slick pavement. Regenerative braking can feel strong on ice, and a lower regen setting usually makes slowing down smoother.
Riverhead, NY
- Plug in at home and warm the car up before you unplug, so the cold takes less of your range.
- Keep blankets, a portable battery pack, a jump starter and traction gear together in one bin in the back.
- If you're stranded, stay with the car, ask for a flatbed tow and stretch your charge with the seat heaters and blankets.
FAQ Common questionsIs it safe to sit in a parked Ioniq 5 with the heat running?Yes. With no engine, there's no exhaust from the car to worry about, and the heat runs on the high-voltage battery. Keep an eye on your remaining charge, and use the seat heaters and blankets so it lasts longer. Should I keep my Ioniq 5 plugged in during a cold snap?Yes, whenever you're home. Staying plugged in lets the car warm its battery and cabin from the wall, and scheduling charging to finish near your departure time means you leave with a warm battery. Do I really need winter tires on an Ioniq 5?They aren't required, but they make a real difference on icy back roads and packed snow. EVs are heavy and deliver power instantly, so the extra grip and stopping ability of winter tires is worth having from December through March. |
Want to see it in person? Come by for a test drive, or browse what is on the lot right now. Or call (631) 369-0600 · 1800 Old Country Rd, Riverhead |