Tips for Driving Your Electric Vehicle in Cold Weather

A Breakdown of Intelligent VW Safety Features That Have Your Back During Dicey Conditions

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration, 24 percent of weather-related vehicle crashes occur during winter weather, such as snow, slush, or ice. Per their statistics, this results in more than 116,000 people being injured in winter-related incidents with an additional 1,300 more resulting in fatalities.

Winter weather is not to be taken lightly, especially for drivers out on the road here in the Kansas City area. Longtime residents know that Midwestern winters can be extremely intense, resulting in unsafe road conditions, power outages, and several car crashes along 435 and I-35.

The dangers of winter weather are definitely scary, but we plan on delivering more than a cautionary tale. We’re here to offer solutions on how you can safely navigate winter weather here in Lee’s Summit, and how a Volkswagen electric vehicle can help you do it. Here are our top six tips for driving your Volkswagen ID.4 – our award-winning all-electric SUV.

#1 – Switch Over to Snow/Winter Tires

The same way you wouldn’t wear football cleats on the basketball court, you don’t want to drive in a snowstorm on summer tires. Winter tires are specially designed to provide grip on surfaces that are covered in snow and ice. They also use a different type of rubber that holds up better under the duress of cold conditions.

#2 – Allow for Plenty of Time to Thaw Out

One of the huge challenges when driving in winter weather is the lack of visibility. Sleet and snow make it especially difficult for drivers to see the cars around them, which can be a huge liability if one of them suddenly decides to stop or maneuver into your lane.

Do yourself a favor and allow for your windshield and windows to completely thaw out before hitting the road. The goal is that you want to give yourself as much visibility as humanly possible. New electric cars from Volkswagen come with a remote start feature that allows you to start your car from the comfort of your own home.

#3 – Switch Your Electric Vehicle Over to Snow Mode

One of the big advantages of electric vehicles from VW is that they feature snow mode, which is something that VW engineers designed so that drivers can easily tackle winter weather. While engaged in snow mode, your VW will signal the transmission to upshift earlier in the power cycle.

This gives your Volkswagen vehicle much better traction in winter conditions like snow, slush, and ice. In the event that any slippage is detected, your Traction Control System (TCS) will kick in and reduce power to the affected tire and redistribute it to the other tires so that you can retain traction. TCS comes in handy during tricky curves and on inclines.

#4 – IQ.DRIVE Comes Standard on All Volkswagen Electric Vehicles

Even the best of drivers need all the help they can get during extreme winter weather, which is exactly where IQ.DRIVE comes into play. This is a suite of driver assistance features made to help drivers navigate dicey conditions. It includes:

• Travel Assist
• Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)
• Active Blind Spot Monitor
• Rear Traffic Alert
• Front Assist
• Emergency Assist
• Lane Assist

#5 – 4Motion All-Wheel Drive is Included in the New VW Electric Car for Sale

Having four-wheel drive is nice, but it doesn’t hold a candle to 4Motion with Active Control all-wheel drive, which is featured on any VW ID.4 electric vehicle at your local Volkswagen dealer. This advanced feature measures the speed of each individual wheel multiple times per second. If a sensor anticipates slippage or loss of traction, the system will engage and send up to 50 percent of the engine’s power to the electric vehicle’s rear axle, which allows the vehicle to instantly regain traction.

#6 – Use Best Practices for Winter Driving

There are a lot of winter weather driving best practices you can employ, but about 90% of it is just going slower. Drive slower. Turn slower. Merge slower. Brake sooner and more deliberately. Take however you would normally drive and dial it back some. Even with brand new winter tires and all the bells and whistles a Volkswagen vehicle provides for winter driving, you still need to employ a cautionary driving style to avoid a cold weather calamity.

Find Your Perfect Winter Volkswagen Vehicle at VW Clear Lake!

Now that you know some of the top tips on safe winter driving along with how a Volkswagen vehicle can help you navigate snowy and icy weather, the next step is to get you behind the wheel of one for a test drive. As the leader of new electric cars for sale in Lee’s Summit, we have the perfect SUV that will enable you to handle even the most challenging of winter conditions.

Not yet in the market for an electric vehicle? No problem! As the leading Volkswagen dealer in the KC area, VW Lee’s Summit carries a wide variety of new cars, used cars, and certified pre-owned vehicles that have undergone a 100+ plus point inspection. Additionally, we’re always running great deals on VW products and services and our specials section, such as our deflation clearance sale (get $500 off any new vehicle). No matter what your driving style or budget is, our team can help you find the perfect VW for you.

The best way to check out our new electric cars or other vehicles is by visiting our dealership here at VW Lee’s Summit, conveniently located at 2225 NE Independence Ave in Lee’s Summit, MO. You can also give us a call at (816) 282-0022 or contact us via e-mail using the contact form on our website.

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