Electric Cars In Cold Weather: Here’s What Really Happens

With the rise in popularity of electric cars, there are more consumers than ever before considering making the switch. With all these new prospective EV buyers comes more questions about what the benefits and drawbacks are, especially compared to gas-powered cars. One of the biggest concerns with EVs, especially for people who live in areas where temperatures plummet below freezing during the winter months, is what happens to electric cars in cold weather.

By far one of the biggest obstacles stopping car shoppers from considering a battery-powered vehicle is how long it takes to charge and how far it will be able to travel on said charge. The total driving range has historically been less than that of equivalent gas-powered cars, and charging the batteries back up typically takes longer than it does to fill up a gas tank. It is because of this that the idea that a bit of cold weather might further reduce the range, increase the charge time, and even affect an EV’s performance might make those who live in places like Minnesota or Alaska even more reluctant to consider one. But what really happens to electric cars in cold climates, and what is the best electric car for cold weather?

Electric Cars In Cold Weather: Performance And Range Losses

Jeep

So, do EVs lost range and performance in cold weather? Well, the ideal operating temperature for an electric car is between 60 and 95 degrees, rather like us humans. If the ambient temperature is below 15 degrees, the battery charging rate and the total range start to drop off, and if the temperature dips below zero, that loss in the performance of the battery and the range can start to become noticeable. The range and charging of an electric car may also be negatively impacted by the temperature rising to much above 100 degrees Fahrenheit, but that’s a story for another time.

There have been studies that have shown a loss in real-world driving range. One study done by RecurrentAuto suggests that with the Tesla Model 3, its range decreases by around 24%, the Ford Mustang Mach-E’s range decreases by 34%, and the Volkswagen I.D.4’s range sees a massive 46% drop. It is important to stress that one study cannot give the full picture and, indeed, a study conducted by the Vaziri Law Group Personal Injury Attorneys had the range of these same models dropping by 50%, 37% and 35%, respectively.

Either way, a possible loss of range in the double percentage figures could be a cause for concern, and a gas-powered car only loses around 10% to 20% of its fuel efficiency in the winter. Then we have the issue of performance. A study by SAE International showed that at around 20ºF, 0–60 times can drop by between 0.5–1.5 seconds, and a test done by Motor Trend on the Jeep Wagoneer S noted a slight drop-off in power as well as range. Gas-powered cars, however, can have the same performance as normal in cold weather, provided the engine is up to temperature.

Why Do EV Cars In Cold Weather Lose Range And Performance?

Dodge

Before we get on to what can be done to limit the loss of range and performance in an electric car, it is important to understand what goes on underneath that causes such faltering as the outside temperature plummets. Essentially, it is all down to the battery and the chemical reactions that take place inside it to release its energy. At colder temperatures, the lithium ions inside it will move more slowly through the electrolyte, resulting in an increase in the internal resistance and a greater amount of energy used to overcome this.

Tobias Sagmeister/Audi

This is why the amount of range as well as the time taken to charge an EV is negatively impacted, as well as the regenerative braking, as the lower temperatures mean the battery can’t absorb energy as quickly. Another factor that contributes massively to an EV’s range is heating. Both electric and gas-powered cars require energy to heat their cabins, but an internal combustion engine produces a lot of waste heat energy that can be used for this purpose. EVs, on the other hand, don’t have this accidental benefit, so getting the cabin toasty on a cold day can sap the battery. The acceleration and overall performance an electric motor is able to deliver will be negatively impacted by the battery’s higher internal resistance, but the battery management system (BMS) may also cap the power in cold temperatures to preserve the battery’s long-term health.

What Can Be Done For Electric Cars In Winter?

Ford

While this may all look pretty bleak if you’re in the market for an electric car, especially if you live way up in the Northern Hemisphere, it doesn’t have to be the end of the world. Consumers in Canada and Scandinavian countries like Norway certainly seem to agree with this, as they both have teeming EV markets. This is not just because people in colder countries are happy to only be doing sub-100-mile journeys at a time, it is because the manufacturers of electric cars have, over the years, thought of ways to stop the cars they produce from suffering such a loss in range. There are also things you can do with your electric car as an owner that will help to maximize the possible range and performance when the winter starts to bite, apart from just getting an EV that has a bigger battery to begin with.

Volvo

The first of these things is something called preconditioning. Put quite simply, preconditioning involves getting the battery to the ideal operating temperature and pre-heating the cabin so it is nice and warm before you get in. Doing this whilst plugged into a charger, which many EV owners have in their homes, means the energy used for preconditioning comes from the grid, rather than the battery, meaning the latter won’t be depleted so soon.

Another thing that newer EVs have fitted to them is heat pumps. In case you aren’t familiar with the way they work in other applications, they essentially move heat rather than generate it, meaning they are far more energy efficient. These are things that may require getting a certain kind of electric vehicle, and it is usually more recently produced ones that will have these features. Other things you can do include using heated seats instead of air conditioning to heat the cabin, having a NEMA 4-rated charger at home so it is protected from the elements, and keeping the battery on at least 20% charge, so there is some in reserve to keep the battery warm.

Should You Buy An EV If You Live In A Cold Weather State?

Volvo

Whether you should get an electric car if you live in areas with bitterly cold winters depends entirely on your individual use case. Being able to charge up your car’s battery at home without having to rely on publicly available chargers that might all be occupied or out of order will always make owning an EV less trying. This benefit is only even more pronounced when the total range is decreased by the cold. If you are able to store your EV under cover like, for example, in a garage, it will also help stop the car and, crucially, the battery from getting too cold. If your average journey is never more than 30 miles, the cold weather should not be a concern even for the EVs whose range is worst hit by the cold. If you do find yourself driving cross-country in the snow, or just want some extra piece of mind, choosing a long-legged EV which uses modern technologies like preconditioning and heat pumps to limit the loss of range would be the best bet.

FAQs

Which electric car is best in cold weather?

The best electric car for cold weather is likely to be a more modern one that has a high range to begin with, and also all the latest thermal management technologies. The EX30 from Volvo is small, light on its feet, has a Cross Country version with all-terrain tires, which, with grip from its all-wheel-drive system, can easily deal with snow. It also has plenty of range thanks to its heat pump and preconditioning capabilities. The Kia EV6 and its sister car, the Hyundai Ioniq 5, pioneered the use of heat pumps, and they should also be considered, as should one of the EV range champs – the Tesla Model Y.

Why do electric vehicles struggle in extreme cold weather?

All cars are likely to struggle to achieve the best possible range and also the best performance if there is extreme cold, due to snow and ice making the roads more slippery and low temperatures hurting the efficiency of their power source. The degree to which electric cars struggle in cold climates can be more exposed because there is no heat generated by the powertrain like there is in an internal combustion engine, and even if a gas-powered car does suffer from range loss, it only takes a few minutes to refill the tank.

Should I plug in my EV every night in winter?

If you are able to have a charger fitted that can charge your electric car while it is sitting at home, this will significantly reduce some of the headaches associated with electric cars in winter. As well as the obvious benefit of making sure that your battery is topped up before you set off for the day so that you don’t have to find a charger en-route, plugging in every night means that the car can be preconditioned. This involves warming up the battery, so the loss of range is less severe, and some models even allow you to set the heating system to get the car’s interior warm at the time you are expecting to set off. While plugged in, the power to do this comes from the grid, not the battery.

Sources: RecurrentAuto, Vaziri Law LLP, SAEInternational, Volvo, Hyundai, Kia Tesla.