EV range in the cold
When faced with dropping temperatures, your EV has to work harder than usual to get you moving (and keep you warm). Two key processes cause this extra effort.
The first is the battery itself. Cold weather inhibits chemical reactions in your EV’s battery, creating resistance against the processes needed to get it going.
Where your EV draws its heat from is the second process. Gas-powered cars redirect excess heat produced by the motor into the cabin when it’s cold. However, because EV motors don’t produce nearly as much heat as an engine, your EV’s cabin heater pulls energy directly from the battery. Unfortunately, this depletes the battery faster.
Essentially, the colder it gets, the more your EV’s range will drop. For most EVs, expect a reduction between 10% and 20%. In some cases, though, EVs can lose up to 30% of their estimated range in the winter.
How to manage range loss
Depending on where you live, how cold it gets, and the original range of your EV, you may need to adjust how you drive in the winter.
Preconditioning/preheating is the best way to manage range loss during the winter. If you plug your EV in overnight, you can “precondition” the temperature to let your EV warm up before you use it in the morning. This helps the battery get up to its optimal temperature, conserving more of its energy for actual driving. Most EVs can be preconditioned using an app on your smartphone.
Relying on seat warmers instead of your cabin heater can also help preserve energy for the battery.
A third option to consider is a heat pump. This device pulls heat from outside instead of using the battery to generate all the heat needed to keep the cabin comfortable. Although this may sound counter-intuitive, especially when it’s -25 ˚C outside, cold air simply has less heat than warm air; the pump can still pull some out to heat the cabin.
Keep in mind, winter range loss is temporary. Although it may concern you to see the range drop with the temperature, there’s no permanent damage done to your battery, and your range should return to regular numbers as the weather warms.
Other winter symptoms
Reduced range is the primary side effect of winter on EVs, but the chilly temperatures can also influence the performance of other parts of your vehicle.
For example, your EV will charge at a slower rate when it’s cold outside. Regenerative braking may be limited this time of year, too.
This doesn’t mean EVs are completely useless in the cold, though. Most vehicles will have to work harder when the temperature drops. The main difference with an EV is keeping an eye on your range and ensuring you have enough time in the evenings to charge up before the following day.
For more advice on managing your EV through the winter months, visit a NexDrive service centre to ask an expert.