EVs don’t produce much heat while driving, which is usually a good thing, but becomes a problem when temperatures drop.
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As temperatures drop, EV owners face the physical challenge of reduced battery performance and increased charging times.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, EVs’ fuel economy at 20 degrees can be 8% lower than at 75 degrees, and range can be reduced by about 12%. Turning on interior heating reduces range by 41%.
The reason: Cold weather slows down the chemical process that electric car batteries use to store energy.
EVs are becoming increasingly popular in the United States. According to Experian’s Automotive Market Trends Report, electric vehicles accounted for 8.2% of all new car registrations in the third quarter of 2024. Another 11.5% were hybrid electric/gasoline vehicles. From 2021 onwards, the proportion of gasoline vehicle registrations has decreased by 10%.
To be fair, this isn’t just an electric car issue. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, gas-powered cars are about 15 percent less fuel efficient at 20 degrees than at 77 degrees. Short trips of 3-4 miles can see up to a 24% drop. For this reason, in the coldest regions of the United States, many people use electric block heaters or battery pads to warm their engines.
However, charging an EV takes longer than filling up a gas tank, so range becomes important in cold climates. So while cars and trucks don’t perform as well in the freezing cold as they do in the summer, electric vehicles are even worse off. Here’s why:
Why does my EV charge slower when it’s cold?
As the temperature drops, the electrochemical process that the battery uses to charge slows down. To charge, a car must first warm up the battery, which takes time and energy. Therefore, when it gets cold, it takes longer to charge the battery.
The ideal operating temperature for an EV battery is approximately 68 to 86 degrees, depending on the model.
Batteries are charged when lithium ions stored at the cathode return to the anode. Cold charging conditions reduce the efficiency with which ions flow through the anode, reducing battery capacity.
Heating an EV consumes a lot of battery power. why?
EVs don’t produce much heat while operating, which is usually a good thing, but problems arise when temperatures drop.
Gasoline engines produce a large amount of residual heat, which can be used to heat a room. According to NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, only about 25 percent of the energy per gallon of gasoline is used to run a vehicle. The rest is waste heat.
Electric cars don’t have gasoline-burning engines, and about 89% of their energy goes to turning the wheels, according to Yale University’s Climate Connections.
According to Cold Climate Expert Efficiency Maine, it’s more energy efficient to use heated seats to keep EVs warm than to blow hot air into the cabin.
How to get the best performance from your EV in cold environments
1. Consider purchasing an EV equipped with heat pump technology
New EVs are increasingly equipped with heat pump technology as a standard feature, increasing efficiency in cold climates. According to MoveElectric, in EVs, heat pumps draw in cold air from outside, compress it, and use the heat from the condenser to raise the temperature in the battery or inside the vehicle. This can significantly increase range that could otherwise be lost in cold weather.
2. Preheat the battery
Most current EVs automatically preheat the battery when it recognizes that it is heading to the charger. This allows it to charge quickly and efficiently when plugged in. If you’re charging at home, consider plugging it in right away while the vehicle is still warm.
Ford recommends that EV owners leave their vehicles plugged in if parked in the cold for long periods of time. When plugged in, the battery temperature remains above freezing.
3. Park indoors if possible
This keeps the battery warm so you don’t have to use as much energy to warm it up later. A car cover can also be helpful.
4. Heat up your car before driving
If it’s very cold, consider turning on your car’s heater while charging. According to AAA, using a heater at 20 degrees reduces range by 41% and fuel economy by 39%. If you want to warm up the interior of your vehicle while it’s charging, you don’t need to use battery power to get it to the right temperature.
If there is no such opportunity, seat heaters consume less energy than cabin heaters.
5. Make sure the tire pressure is correct.
Underfilled tires increase rolling resistance and require more energy for the vehicle to move forward. Check your tires or owner’s manual for optimal inflation pressures.
6. Driving with eco mode on
Most EVs offer this, and the amount of energy required is kept to a minimum at the cost of some performance.
7. Don’t let the battery level fall below 20%
Charging requires sufficient temperature, so depending on how cold it is, you may not be able to charge even if it is plugged into an electrical outlet.
Stephen Beard contributed to this report
