Electric vehicles provide a sustainable and energy efficient method of transportation and carry a wide number of other minor advantages over traditional gas and diesel-powered vehicles. However, when traveling during the winter months, it may make sense for you to put your electric vehicle into a self-storage facility to protect it from the elements and free up some space during a period of extended non-use. However, when putting your electric vehicle into storage, there are a couple of things that you should do to ensure that it stays in good working condition while it is not being driven:

Clean and Cover

The first thing that you should do when planning to put your car into storage is to completely clean the exterior of the vehicle. This will remove dirt and other debris which may degrade the paint job of your vehicle and cause rust and corrosion to begin on your car's body. You can do this by hand using a microfiber cloth and soapy water, as well as car wax to leave a protective layer on the paint, or you can go to a car wash to have it professionally done. You'll also want to invest in a weatherproof cover for your vehicle, even if you are storing it inside a storage unit, as this can help protect your vehicle from high levels of humidity and potential moisture damage.

General Maintenance

You'll also want to take your vehicle into a mechanic to have it checked out. As a general rule of thumb, you should inflate the tires to their recommended pressure, have the oil and transmission fluid checked and replaced or topped up if necessary, and add coolant and antifreeze to your engine if you'll be storing your vehicle during the winter. If your electric vehicle is a hybrid, you'll also want to fill up the gas tank, as empty space in the tank can cause moisture to build up and start the corrosion process. Be sure to add a fuel stabilizer if this is the case, available at most automotive stores, to prevent the gas from slowly breaking down over time.

Maintain the Battery

Finally, the most important thing that you'll need to do before putting your electric vehicle into storage is to connect a trickle charge to your battery. This type of charger, available at most hardware and auto parts stores, provides a very small amount of power constantly to your car's battery, ensuring that it maintains a proper level of charge throughout the entire storage period so that your electric vehicle will be able to start normally and efficiently once you finally take it out for a drive again. 

Contact your local storage facility for more information and assistance.