Electric cars shed only 5% of range in hot weather at 90F (32C), mostly due to the energy used for air conditioning the passengers and the battery. Most drivers don't even notice. Extreme temperatures above 100F can have a greater impact. Real-world data from roughly 30,000 vehicles found that, on average, EVs can lose around 17-18%.

Here's the full breakdown by EV model.

Note: Range performance is calculated as a percentage of the maximum range under ideal temperature and road conditions. 

How do heat pumps affect summer range?

One interesting thing the Recurrent research team found looking at summer range data is that cars with heat pumps average slightly higher range loss at high temperatures than cars without heat pumps. 

Vehicles with heat pumps are typically optimized for cool temperatures — mitigating winter range loss. This is likely because automakers know that cold weather has a bigger effect on range. 

Fortunately, there is less range loss (and fear of range loss) in the summer.

Why is EV range loss less in the summer than winter? 

The difference between comfortable cabin temperature (e.g. 70F) and outside temperature is usually smaller in the summer than in the winter. In the summer, you may want to change the inside temperature 20 or 25 degrees, but in the winter, you may be looking at a temperature change of more than 50 degrees! 

Pro tip: Much like in the winter, you can save your range for the road by pre-cooling your car while it’s still plugged in. If you’re not starting your trip from home, things like sun shades or parking in the shade can also really help. 

How to protect an EV in the heat? 

Modern electric cars can withstand the heat thanks to robust thermal management systems that keep the batteries cool and safe. 

However, here are a few things to consider: 

1. Try to avoid letting your EV sit with extremely low states of charge. This is extra risky in the summer because an EV uses its battery power to keep the battery cool. Keep your car charged to at least 50%, or plugged in with a charge limit of 80%. 
2. If you’re able to park your car in the shade - do it! That doesn't mean you can't leave your car in the airport parking lot for a week, but it is something to consider if you live in a very hot climate.
3. LFP batteries stand up better to the heat. If you know that you will frequently be leaving your car in the sun for weeks, or letting your car sit with the battery charge under 20%, consider getting a car with an LFP battery. This type of lithium ion battery degrades less in the heat. 

Why is EV cooling different from ICE cooling?

The good news is that A/C has much less of a negative impact on EV range than a resistance heater, and range does not really begin to dip until at least 90 degrees.

Overall, cooling your EV’s cabin will be less range intensive than heating it. Plus, here’s what’s cool about cooling an EV:

1. With a gas car, the engine produces a lot of waste heat that the air conditioner has to work against to keep the cabin cool. An EV does not produce the same amount of heat when running so the AC doesn’t have to work as hard. This means it uses the same amount of energy to cool your car whether you’re driving or idling. 
2. You can pre-cool your EV when it’s plugged in. This is great because the most energy intensive part of air conditioning is the initial cool down. It may take 3-5 kW of energy to get a 95 degree car to a comfortable temperature, but it takes only around 1 kW to keep it there. 
3. Cold air happens immediately - no more waiting for the air compressor to kick in as the engine warms up!

What’s the same? Basic air conditioner maintenance. While electric air conditioners are simpler systems than mechanical ones, you should still check your air filters and hoses regularly.   

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