Tackling the Winter roads in a BYD car
Feeling anxious about driving your new BYD car this winter?
Winter can turn the world into a picturesque scene, but it also presents unique challenges for drivers.
While the sparkling landscapes and fresh air are beautiful, they come with slippery roads and reduced visibility.
To ensure a safe and enjoyable winter driving experience, it’s important to be well-prepared and follow the right practices.
Whether you’re driving an ICE vehicle or one of our BYD cars, this blog will provide essential tips to help you navigate winter roads with confidence.
1. Check your tyres
During the winter months, experts recommend the minimum tyre tread depth should be 4mm, so you should always check that your tyres are legal.
It might be worth getting winter tyres, these specialised tyres provide superior traction on snow and ice, ensuring better control of your vehicle.
2. Keep on top of your car servicing
By ensuring you stick to your service plan, you’ll keep your car in top condition, giving you the peace of mind that it’s as safe as can be.
This proactive approach minimises the risk of unexpected breakdowns and ensures your vehicle is ready to tackle the challenges of winter weather.
Keep your car on the road with BYD servicing. By taking the time to get your BYD car serviced, you’re investing in a safer and more reliable winter driving experience.
3. Check your battery
For ICE vehicles, the battery is the heart of the starting system. Cold weather can reduce a battery’s efficiency, making it more challenging to crank the engine.
Regularly checking the battery’s health is a proactive measure to avoid unexpected breakdowns on frosty mornings.
For electric cars, we’d recommend regularly topping up its charge as it takes a lot of energy to pre-warm the battery which will obviously affect range too.
BYD in particular has paid particular attention to the effect that colder weather can have on electric car range. Which is why all BYD cars are fitted with heat pumps as standard.
BYD’s heat pumps are designed to highly utilise residual heat from surroundings and help increase thermal efficiency in winter by 15%. Thus increasing the driving range in lower temperatures.
4. Check visibility - windscreen, washer fluid and lights
Clear visibility is crucial for safe driving.
Replace worn-out windshield wipers and use winter-grade washer fluid to prevent ice buildup.
Ensure all lights, including headlights and taillights, are in working order.
5. Carry a winter emergency kit
A two hour journey could easily turn into an eight hour one, so no matter how long your journey is supposed to be, be prepared for the unknown and pack a little emergency kit.
Some essentials to keep in your car could include:
- A blanket.
- A torch.
- Wellies.
- De-icer and ice scraper.
- A power bank and cable to keep your phone charged up.
6. Be prepared for your journey
Plan your route in advance and inform someone of your travel plans. This ensures that someone knows your expected arrival time and can check on you if needed.
Also stay updated on weather and road conditions before setting out. Use weather apps and check traffic reports to make informed decisions about your route and timings.
Winter comfort features in your BYD car
Pre-condition your car by pressing down on the bottom button on the key for about 3-4 seconds and your air vents will start running to defrost the cabin. Or you can do this through the BYD app where you’ll also be able to turn your heated seats on to get extra toasty.
You can also ask your BYD to turn these features on. If you’re driving in rubbish conditions, you’re probably not going to want to mess with your settings during your journey so you can say “Hi BYD, turn on my heated seat” or simply that you’re cold and it’ll turn the temperature up in the cabin for you.
