Ginny Buckley, founder of EV advice site Electrifying.com, explains that electric vehicles (EVs) have surprising advantages over petrol and diesel models during a heatwave. From cooling the cabin before leaving home to powering a fridge at the beach or sleeping comfortably with air conditioning running overnight, here are six brilliant things an EV can do that petrol cars cannot.
Sleep in air-conditioned comfort
When temperatures refuse to drop, an EV can become a cool bedroom. Running the air conditioning overnight can cost just pennies if plugged into a cheap overnight tariff. Several EVs include dedicated camping features: Tesla’s Camp Mode keeps climate control, ventilation, and USB ports running all night; Rivian’s R1T and R1S use adjustable air suspension to level the vehicle on a slope. Škoda’s Enyaq offers a camping package that transforms the boot into a compact kitchen, with a mattress turning the cabin into a double bed. If plugged into a home charger, the car runs AC using mains electricity rather than draining the battery.
Use clever EV technology to stay cool
Tesla’s Dog Mode keeps air conditioning running while away from the car, keeping pets comfortable on hot days. Kia introduced a Pet Mode on models like the EV5 and EV9. Many EVs feature Vehicle-to-Load (V2L), allowing powering of household appliances from the car’s battery. This can run a portable fridge, an ice-making machine, fans, or charge camping equipment without a mains hookup.
Cool the cabin before you leave
Most EVs allow pre-cooling the cabin via a smartphone app while the car is plugged in, avoiding an oven-like interior. Pre-cooling uses electricity from the home charger, reducing battery drain while driving. Many EVs also precondition the battery for optimal efficiency and charging performance.
Protect your battery during extreme heat
Modern EVs automatically manage battery temperatures with cooling systems. To help, avoid rapid charging immediately after a long, high-speed motorway journey; let the battery cool first. If leaving the car for a holiday, keep the battery between 20 and 80 per cent charge to maintain long-term health.
Drive smarter in hot weather
Electric motors generate far less waste heat than petrol or diesel engines, making it easier to keep the cabin cool. Set climate control to around 20°C for efficiency. Open windows briefly before setting off to release trapped hot air. Check tyre pressures regularly, as heat increases pressure. Carry drinking water and plan for delays during extreme heat.
Choose a summer-ready EV
If shopping for a new EV, consider one that excels in summer. The new Renault 4 Plein Sud features an enormous electrically operated canvas roof (800mm x 920mm) that replaces part of the steel roof, offering open-air motoring in near silence. It costs an extra £1,500 but is ideal for sunny days.
