The extreme weather sucks the life of your electric car

As more affordable and longer-range electric cars hit the market, the long-anticipated move to battery-powered transportation seems about to happen. But a major challenge remains to be met: cold cold as a battery.

A new study by AAA reveals that when mercury drops to 20 degrees Fahrenheit, the average autonomy of an electric car drops by 41%. When cold temperatures arrive, electric vehicle owners have the same instincts as their internal combustion engine trainer brothers, who must increase the heat as much as possible. This poses serious constraints on the battery of an EV, which reduces the overall range and increases the need to charge more often to reduce the risk of failure from a discharged battery.

"The appeal of electric vehicles has been growing since a wider variety of designs and options with increased reach have emerged on the market," said Greg Brannon, Automotive Engineering and Industrial Relations Manager at AAA. "As long as drivers understand that there are limits when using electric vehicles in more extreme climates, they are less likely to be caught off guard by an unexpected drop in the price of electricity. autonomy."

The owners of electric vehicles discovered this during the recent cold spell that hit the central United States and Canada. As temperatures plummeted, owners of Chevy Bolts and Tesla Model 3 told CNBC they saw at least 50% less autonomy in their vehicles.

Extreme heat is also a brake for electric vehicles. When the outside temperature heats up to 95 degrees Fahrenheit and the air conditioning is used inside the vehicle, the range can decrease by 17%, reports the AAA. While extreme temperatures play a role in driving distance reduction, the use of the vehicle's HVAC system under these conditions – particularly heat – has by far the largest effect.

The problem is that unlike a car equipped with an internal combustion engine capable of warming the interior with lost heat, electric vehicles must tap into their batteries to power the air conditioning system.

Less battery means more charge, which increases the cost of using the vehicle. The AAA study found that the use of heat at 20 degrees Fahrenheit adds nearly $ 25 more per 1,000 miles more than the cost of combined city and highway driving at 75 degrees Fahrenheit.

AAA has tested five electric vehicles – the BMW i3, the Chevy Bolt, the Nissan Leaf, the Tesla Model S and the Volkswagen e-Golf – all with a minimal battery life estimated to be 100 miles by the EPA. The actual driving conditions were simulated using a dynamometer, which is essentially a giant car treadmill, in a closed test cell where the ambient temperature could be closely monitored.

To determine the effects on driving autonomy, we compared cold and hot weather scenarios, with or without HVAC, to those of a normal outdoor temperature driving. Surprisingly, AAA found that the impact on the range was almost uniform among the cars tested.

EV manufacturers will need to find a way to communicate the effects of extreme weather conditions to customers in order to increase their sales market. In the meantime, homeowners can take some steps to help mitigate the effects of extreme heat and extreme cold on their vehicles, said AAA. Take the time to preheat or cool the car while it is still plugged into a charger. And plan ahead for frequent stops to recharge your batteries if you're going on a longer trip, so you do not get stuck on the side of the road with a dead battery.