Yes, it's safe to charge an EV in the snow

It can rain in Wisconsin, and it can snow in Wisconsin. It can also rain and snow at the same time in Wisconsin. Winter (which happens to be my favorite season) is always an excellent time to test a new vehicle, regardless of powertrain. I can determine how capable a vehicle's touted AWD (all wheel drive) or 4x4 footprint is in snow, sample various tires' grip on ice and slippery surfaces, and keep an eye on any measurable differences in fuel economy or range. Speaking of range, I've been testing Nissan's all-new Leaf, which was just redesigned for 2026. The brand's mainstream EV is now in its second generation, taking more of a crossover silhouette akin to Tesla's popular yet growingly stale Model Y. Overall, I think Nissan knocked it out of the park with its new Leaf, and while EV adoption has slowed, it's critical for the automotive industry to still offer EV shoppers solid, affordable products, like the Leaf. This fall, Nissan plans to launch an entry-level Leaf S+ promising 303 miles of range per charge for under $30,000. That's incredibly compelling.

One of the most common and frequent questions I get asked about EVs is "Can you plug it in when it's raining or snowing?" While such a question may seem hilarious or silly, I do think it's a legitimate question because for a lot of folks (including my always curious neighbor), electric vehicles are such a new concept, and they're not familiar with them. We all grew up with NEMA's Mr. Ouch cartoon, you know, the dramatic black bolt of lightning that warned us not mess around with electricity. Keep hairdryers away from bathtubs and sinks, don't put forks in outlets, use surge protectors...we (hopefully) use enough common sense to avoid getting shocked. EV's have high-voltage battery packs of all sizes, some measuring 200 kWh, likely as big as your living room couch. Connecting a charging plug to said battery pack, expectedly, may seem daunting if you've never done so before...and that's totally okay.

But I'm here to assure you that it is completely safe to plug in and charge an EV (or a plug-in hybrid) in a rainy downpour or blizzard of heavy snow. An EV's charging ports, often located on a front or rear fender, are engineered and designed to meet strict safety standards in order to be weatherproof and stormproof.  As are the plugs that connect and click into them. In fact, an EV's plug itself and the charging port can be buried in ice or soaking wet, and it's still safe to marry the two. It's a similar scenario for public charging stations, which also have to follow strict safety regulations. The reality is, the only thing you'll really have to be concerned and worried about when plugging in your EV in the rain or snow...is you yourself getting wet.

So carry on, plug in, and stay dry while doing so. 

~Robby

➡️ What I'm reading: The Gales of November by John Bacon
➡️ What I'm listening to: "This Must Be The Place" by Talking Heads
➡️ What I'm drinking: Alaskan Brewing Company's Amber
➡️ An auction I'm watching: https://carsandbids.com/auctions/rMbApn8R/1993-mazda-rx-7-r1
➡️ A story you should peep: https://insideevs.com/news/783100/2026-used-ev-deals/