Climate Change - One of the Problems with EVs, They Don't Like the Cold

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Electric vehicles lose up to 30% range when temperatures dip

below freezing, study finds

Sudbury, Ont., EV driver says preheating a car while it's plugged in will improve winter range

CBC News · 

Posted: Feb 07, 2023 4:00 AM PST | 

General Motors tests its new and upcoming electric vehicles, like the Hummer EV, at its proving grounds

in Kapuskasing, Ont. They see how vehicles perform in extreme cold weather and how they can improve them.

(Submitted by General Motors)

Electric vehicles (EVs) can lose up to 30 per cent of their range in freezing temperatures, according to a U.S. firm that tested range loss in 7,000 cars.

Seattle-based Recurrent measured range loss in 7,000 EVs at temperatures between –7 C and –1 C.

At the low end, the Jaguar I-Pace had an estimated range loss of three per cent, while the Volkswagen ID.4 had a 30 per cent range loss at those temperatures.

Liz Najman, a researcher with Recurrent, said EVs lose range during the winter because of the energy it takes to heat the cabin so it's comfortable for the driver and passengers.

Because electric motors are more efficient than gas engines, they can't draw on wasted heat to warm up the inside of the vehicle. 

"If you've ever touched the hood of a gas car, you know it's really hot after it's been driving," Najman said.

"And that's because gasoline engines are super inefficient, and so they create all of this waste heat. And when you turn the car on in a gas car, you just funnel all of that heat from the engine to the cabin."

Importance of charging infrastructure

EVs have to generate heat in other ways, which means using more energy from the battery that won't go toward range. Some vehicles, however, use more efficient heat pumps to get the cabin warm, which means there's more energy left over from the battery to propel the vehicle forward. 

Seattle-based Recurrent measured range loss in 7,000 EVs at temperatures between -7 C and -1 C.

(Submitted by Recurrent)

Steve Holmik of Sudbury, Ont., drives a Tesla Model Y and said he can lose up to 50 per cent of his range if outside temperatures are very cold.

"Around town, the range impact is negligible," Holmik said. "It's nice and warm when you get inside. It's no different to essentially driving a gas vehicle."

Holmik said the winter range loss could be an issue for people who drive long distances in the winter, especially if they travel in areas further north, where charging infrastructure is lacking.

"Especially once you get north of Sudbury, the infrastructure just isn't there," he said. "Like if you go to Timmins, you'd be lucky to find a Level 2 charger."

But Holmik said he can greatly improve his winter range by preheating his car while it's still plugged in at his house or using a fast charger. He said he can improve range loss by up to 20 per cent by doing that.

So, that would mean he still only gets 30% less range in very cold weather. It's a pity they didn't measure range loss at -25C. That would be really interesting, especially for Canadians who get stuck in snowstorms or avalanches for 24 hours or more.

Some vehicles, like Teslas, also have a feature called battery preconditioning, where the car will warm up the battery before reaching a charger, which speeds up charging times.

CBCs bias

Notice in the chart above that the VW ID4 wasn't the only car that lost 30% of its range in cold weather. The Ford Mustang Mach-E also lost 30%, and the Chevy Bolt lost 32%. Why CBC completely ignored these two American-made vehicles speaks volumes about CBCs built-in bias.

At least, Jaguar has shown that it is possible to minimize the loss of range to a negligible amount if the will is there.