The Electrifying team love our EVs for lots of reasons, not least because during a heatwave they have some surprising advantages over petrol and diesel cars.

From cooling the cabin before you leave the house to powering a fridge at the beach or sleeping comfortably with the air conditioning on overnight, here are six brilliant things an electric vehicle can do during a heatwave that petrol cars simply can't.

Cool camping in your car

When the temperature refuses to drop, your EV could become the coolest bedroom you own and it can cost just pennies to keep the air conditioning running while you sleep if you're plugged into a cheap overnight tariff.

Several EVs now include dedicated camping features that allow you to keep the climate control running overnight while you sleep. Tesla's Camp mode keeps the air conditioning, ventilation and USB ports running all night (Leapmotor has something similar if you're on a budget), while Rivian's R1T and R1S take things a step further by using their adjustable air suspension to level the vehicle if you're parked on a slope.

Skoda has properly embraced the camping trend too. The Enyaq is available with a camping package that transforms the boot into a compact kitchen while a mattress turns the cabin into a double bed - I’ve tried it and it's surprisingly comfortable.

Better still, if you're plugged into a home charger on a cheap overnight tariff, you can keep the air conditioning running while the car uses mains electricity. If your bedroom feels like an oven during a heatwave, your EV could end up being the coolest place to spend the night. 

Just don't park next to Nicola – her snoring will ruin all that lovely peace and quiet.

Use the technology without worrying about idling

Electric cars have some brilliant tech to help you get through the summer – even when you're not driving. Tesla's famous Dog mode lets you keep the air conditioning running while you're away from the car, helping to keep pets comfortable on hot days (check out the best EVs for dogs here). Other carmakers have been sniffing around the idea, with Kia now introducing a Pet mode on models including the EV5 and EV9, which does a similar thing.

V2L (vehicle to load) systems are also brilliant during a heatwave, allowing you to power mains appliances directly from the car's battery. This means you can run a portable fridge full of cold drinks, power an ice-making machine, run fans or keep camping equipment going without needing a mains hookup. It's one of the most useful EV features that many owners never realise they have.

Precondition your interior – make the most of your EV's app

Drivers are familiar with preheating an electric car during winter, but exactly the same technology works in reverse.

Most EVs allow you to cool the cabin before you set off, often using a smartphone app while the car is still plugged in. Not only does this make the journey more comfortable, but it also saves battery energy for driving rather than cooling down an already scorching interior.

Many electric cars will also precondition the battery at the same time, ensuring it's operating at the optimum temperature for efficiency.

Protect your EV battery in hot weather

The good news is that modern EVs are designed to manage battery temperatures automatically, so drivers don't need to worry about everyday hot weather damaging their battery. 

But even so, battery packs do their best work when they're neither too hot nor too cold.

While modern EVs automatically cool their batteries when necessary, drivers can still help by avoiding unnecessary stress during extreme temperatures.

If possible, avoid rapid charging immediately after sustained high-speed motorway driving during the hottest part of the day, allowing the battery time to cool if practical.

If you're leaving your car at home while you're away on holiday, try to leave the battery between 20% and 80% charged, as batteries don't like being left at either very low or very high states of charge for long periods.

Be heat smart and cut the range anxiety

Electric motors are incredibly efficient, generating far less waste heat than petrol or diesel engines. That makes it easier to keep the cabin cool, although air conditioning still uses energy.

Rather than setting the climate control to its coldest setting, choose a comfortable temperature – around 20°C – and let the system do the work.

Opening the windows briefly before setting off can also help release trapped hot air before the air conditioning takes over.

Hot weather affects tyres too. As temperatures rise, the air inside your tyres expands, increasing pressure. Checking your tyre pressures regularly during hot weather is good practice for any driver, while carrying drinking water and preparing for the possibility of delays is always sensible during periods of extreme heat.

Choose a summer-ready EV

If you're shopping for a new electric car this summer, why not choose one that comes into its own when the sun is shining?

One of our favourites is the new Renault 4 Plein Sud. We're already big fans of the Renault 4 here at Electrifying.com, with several of the team preferring the chunky crossover styling to its smaller Renault 5 sibling. Now Renault has finally introduced the feature we were most excited about when the original concept was revealed – a huge electrically operated canvas roof.

The Plein Sud – French for ‘due south’ – replaces part of the steel roof with an enormous 800x920mm powered canvas opening. It's far bigger than a conventional sunroof and transforms the Renault 4 into the perfect companion for sunny days, letting you enjoy open-air motoring while still travelling in near silence.

It costs an extra £1,500, but we reckon it's money well spent if you love making the most of summer.

Looking for more sunshine-friendly electric cars? Check out our guide to the best EVs for summer, featuring everything from family SUVs with panoramic roofs to cars with camping features and convertibles. And the Renault 4 Plein Sud.