5 Reasons Why Hybrid Cars Lose Fuel Efficiency in Cold Weather
Hybrid cars are known for being fuel-efficient and environmentally friendly technology, but their benefits come with a downside. Hybrid cars are often thought of as economical all year round. However, the truth is that hybrid cars perform worse in cold weather.
This isn’t surprising, as traditional gasoline cars tend to have the same problem. However, the problem is even more severe in hybrid cars, as low temperatures affect not only the gasoline engine but also the electrical components. This further reduces the fuel economy of hybrid vehicles, resulting in fewer miles per gallon.
Causes of poor fuel economy in cold weather
1) Hybrid battery
The electrical components of a hybrid vehicle only function properly when exposed to warm weather conditions. Of all the components that need to be kept warm, the hybrid battery is at the top of the list.
Every time the hybrid battery transfers power to the electric motor, a chemical reaction occurs within the battery. This chemical reaction can only occur smoothly when temperatures are warm. If it’s too cold outside, the chemical reactions in your battery can malfunction.
When this happens, your electric motor can’t produce enough power. Your gasoline engine has to power your vehicle more, which increases fuel consumption. It can also shorten your battery life.
2) Use the heater
What’s the first thing you do when you get in your car when it’s cold outside? You turn on your heater. Hot coolant enters your vehicle’s heater core. Air passes through the heater core, and the warm air comes out through the dashboard vents.
But the hot coolant can only circulate like this if the engine is running. Even when your car is idling, having the engine running consumes fuel and emits carbon dioxide, which is not what you want as a hybrid owner.
3) Defrosting
Using your defroster in cold temperatures will reduce your gas mileage. A working defroster uses two things to do its job properly: it uses the heat generated by your heater core and removes moisture from the air with your air conditioning compressor. It is the compressor that reduces fuel consumption in hybrid cars.
This means that in addition to the main electric motor, the hybrid battery has to power this electric motor.
At the same time, the gasoline engine has to charge the battery more often. This increases fuel consumption and reduces fuel consumption.
4) Low Tire Pressure
Have you ever noticed that your tires lose pressure when the temperature is cold? This happens to all vehicles, including hybrids. For every 10 degree drop in temperature, your tires will lose up to 2 psi of air pressure.
This makes your vehicle more resistant to rolling and moving. Your engine has to work harder to keep your vehicle moving. This results in more fuel waste and lower fuel consumption.
5) Fuel is Harder to Burn
At lower temperatures, it is harder for your engine to burn fuel. There will always be a small amount of unburned fuel left in the cylinder that will be expelled through the exhaust system.
In this case, your engine will burn more fuel just by performing normal driving operations. You will find yourself spending more money at the pump and releasing more carbon dioxide into the environment.
