Keeping Your Home EV Charger and Driveway Clear in Winter

4 min read · Thames Valley Snow, London, Ontario

Why winter changes how you charge

Cold weather affects every car, and electric vehicles are no exception. Batteries are less efficient when they are cold, so range drops and charging can take longer, especially on the first cold mornings of the season. Many drivers respond by plugging in every night instead of every few days. That means the charger, the cable and the parking spot get used more often in exactly the months when snow and ice get in the way.

Most home chargers in London sit in one of three places: inside the garage, on the outside wall of the garage or house, or on a post beside the driveway. Each one needs a slightly different winter routine.

Charger inside the garage

This is the easiest setup. The main winter job is keeping meltwater and slush away from the charger and the cable. Snow that falls off the car melts on the garage floor, and salty water can pool around a cable left lying on the ground. Hang the cable on its holder when you are not charging, and knock loose snow off the car before you pull in when you can. A boot tray or rubber mat by the door also keeps salt from being tracked into the house; see our guide to keeping salt and slush out of your house.

Charger on an outside wall or post

Outdoor chargers are built to be used in the rain and snow, but they still work best when you can reach them easily and the cable is not buried. A few habits help:

• Keep a clear path from the door to the charger. A short shovelled or cleared route means you are not wading through drifts with the cable in your hand.
• Brush snow off the charge port and the connector before you plug in, and close the port cover when you unplug. Follow your car maker's and charger maker's instructions rather than using heat guns or hot water on frozen parts.
• Never leave the cable lying across the driveway. A cable hidden under fresh snow is a trip hazard, and it can be caught by a shovel, a snowblower or a plow blade.
• Coil the cable back on its holder every morning, even if you plan to plug in again that night.

Plan the parking spot around the plow

Snow removal works best when the driveway is as empty as possible. A car that stays parked and plugged in during a visit leaves the area under and around it uncleared, and that patch can turn to ice once it is packed down. If you can, unplug and move the car to the cleared side of the driveway or into the garage when snow is on the way, then plug in again after the visit.

If the car has to stay where it is, let your snow company know where it usually parks and where the charger and cable are. A post-mounted charger near the edge of the driveway is worth marking, just like a mailbox or a garden bed, so that it is easy to see when the driveway is white. Our guide to where to park during a snowstorm has more on this.

Ice around the charging spot

The spot right beside the car door is often the iciest part of a driveway. Snow is packed down by feet and tires, and meltwater from the car refreezes overnight. A light application of salt or de-icer before freezing rain and on refreeze nights makes a big difference. If you have a dog, or if you are worried about plants and the finish on a newer driveway, a pet-safe de-icer is a gentler option. Read more about why driveways refreeze.

How Thames Valley Snow can help

With a seasonal plan, your driveway is cleared automatically from December 1 to March 31 whenever 5 cm or more falls. In long storms we come back for return visits, and we clear the City windrow at the end of the driveway so you are not blocked in. After every visit you get a timestamped photo, so you can see the driveway was done before you head out.

Prices (all plus HST):

• Single or 1.5-car driveway: $650 to $725 for the season
• Double driveway: $815
• 3-car, paver or stamped driveway: $1,050
• Seasonal salt, including freezing rain and refreeze visits: $175
• Pet-safe de-icer: $120
• Walkway and steps: from $150 (a walk plus up to 6 steps is $175)
• Priority early-morning clearing: $125

If you only want help after bigger storms, per-visit snow removal is $70 to $85 a visit. Seniors and front-line workers save 5% on seasonal plans. We carry $2,000,000 in liability insurance, are registered with WSIB and are members of the London Property Management Association.

Get a fixed price

Every quote is measured from City of London maps and aerial imagery, and residential quotes come back within 1 business day. Tell us where the charger is and where the car usually parks when you ask for a free quote, or see residential snow removal and salting and ice control. You can also call or text (548) 888-8702.