How does cold weather affect electric vehicles?
Summary
A 2018 study by the Idaho National Laboratory found electric vehicles took 36% longer to charge at 0 than at 25°C, which means the half-hour stop you’re used to making in summer could take 40 minutes or more in winter. Massive investments in battery research have delivered longer ranges at lower cost over the last decade, and manufacturers have introduced features that help mitigate some of the effects of winter weather on their latest models. Whereas air-cooling was the norm ten years ago, most new electric vehicle batteries use a liquid coolant to keep the cells within their optimal temperature range. Lots of new models are available with a heat pump, which scavenges warm air from the powertrain and outside the vehicle, then compresses or expands it regulate the cabin temperature more efficiently. A slight drop in performance is unavoidable in freezing conditions, but there are some steps drivers can take to mitigate the effects on their electric vehicle: • Use your heaters sparingly: Heated seats and steering wheels are a faster and more efficient way to stay cosy than trying to warm the entire cabin using the fans – particularly if your vehicle doesn’t have a heat pump • Preconditioning: Most EVs can be programmed to warm the cabin, bring the battery up to temperature and even de-ice the windows for a pre-set departure time.