Electric vehicles have been hailed as part of the solution to the climate crisis, but are they a practical option in the Finnish winter?
They can be, according to the experts, so long as you follow a few simple rules. The first thing to remember when driving an electric vehicle is not to mess with the battery. It’s big and could be dangerous, so if you do break down leave it alone until a professional arrives to help.
Other than that, these 7 tips will keep you in good working order as you drive home (or elsewhere) for Christmas.
1. Make sure you have enough power left in the battery to get to your destination
Roadside assistance mechanic Matti Niemi says that running out of power is a relatively common experience.
"Drivers always trust their car’s computers too much and check from there how much charge they have left," says Niemi. "If the car shows a 70km range left, there may not really be that much left. It could be that the journey ends after the next hill."
Turku Energia product chief Kimmo Kuusinen emphasises that drivers of fully-electric cars should plan their trips carefully and know where they will charge the battery along the route.
"When the battery is a quarter full, you should think about where you’re going to charge it up," says Kuusinen. "I’d stress that it pays to plan your route well and map out the charging points in advance, so you can get to them in time."
2. Check beforehand how you connect and disconnect the charging cables
Matti Niemi says that his roadside assistance colleagues regularly exchange experiences to understand better the issues with electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles.
Turku-based Niemi says he’s heard from colleagues in the capital city region that some drivers have difficulties using the charging points.
"Motorists sometimes can’t get the cable disconnected after charging," says Niemi. "Apparently people have never used them before or haven’t read the instructions."
Calling the help desk of your charge point provider is one effective way to deal with potential technical problems, but it’s also important to understand properly how to connect and disconnect the cable when you’re driving a new car.
3.Take the right charging cables with you
Many commercial charging stations have their own cables, but if you’re in a new location at Christmas you might need to have your own.
Check they’re in the car before you set out to ensure you don’t get caught short.
4. Warm the car at a charging point before you set off
Batteries run down quicker in cold weather than in the summer. Traficom, the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency, says that it pays to use the heating before you set off to leave as much battery power left for the drive itself.
In the coldest conditions battery capacity can be reduced by as much as 41 percent when heating is used.
Heating the car when still hooked up to a power source ensures you won’t get too cold on the road, and you’ll still have enough juice to get where you’re going.
5. Only charge where you know it’s safe
It is possible that you will need to charge unexpectedly. In those cases, check the electricity source can handle the charging process.
Fuses might blow and there is even a fire risk if you plug the car in to a normal socket.
6. Make sure you have enough time for the journey
Matti Niemi recommends calm, leisurely travelling at Christmas time. It’s better to arrive late than not at all, says Niemi.
Drivers of fully-electric vehicles may already adopt a slower driving style, as that helps conserve the battery.
Kimmo Kuusinen says that in this, as everything else, planning is crucial.
"With an electric car it is crucial to understand before you set out where you can make a pit stop," says Kuusisto.
Online services provide the best guide to networks of charging points. Latauskartta is one, and each provider will also have a map in their app.
7. Keep the roadside assistance number handy
Things can go wrong for even the most careful drivers, so be sure to take spare clothes to keep warm if you need them. It’s also prudent to take a spare key and give it to another member of your party, and to check levels of windscreen washer fluid.
Lastly, a number to call when things go wrong is good to have handy.
Operation Snowflake helps drivers every year around this time, and their number is 02008080.
Their operators will arrange roadside assistance and help for drivers who get into difficulties around Christmas time.
