The driving range of an electric vehicle gets affected when the air temperature drops in winter or rises in summer. Which factors maximize or minimize the range? How do temperatures affect electric vehicle batteries? Let’s figure it out.
According to Polestar, the charging time of an EV battery can increase in the cold weather, as electrochemical reactions in it slow, while the heat speeds up chemical reactions in the battery and make it degrade quicker.
Extra planning and adjustments can help the electric car to behave in the best way regardless of temperature.
Some figures
Temperature alone can decrease the driving range by 10-12 percent, and the use of climate control in your car amplifies the loss of the range by 41 percent combined. When you use air conditioning during your road trip, be ready for the range to reduce by 17 percent.
Recommendations to EV Owners
In cold weather
- Before charging the EV battery, make sure it is above freezing. It helps avoid degradation and aging of battery performance. Most electric cars have temperature regulation in their battery system that prevents from charging if the battery is too warm or too cold.
- Store and charge the car in a heated garage if you want to reduce charging time and help the battery efficiently tackle cold temperatures.
- While charging, preheat the EV for it to use the energy from the outlet instead of the power from the battery.
In hot weather
- Store the electric car in a cool location (garage) to keep the battery at optimal temperatures. EVs are designed to safely operate in any weather, but you should remember that climatizing and pre-conditioning help tackle extreme climate conditions, including frost and heat.
- To maximize the range, try to drive the car in cooler conditions, limit the weight in the vehicle, and avoid excess braking/acceleration.
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