All cars lose efficiency in the cold weather. Whether gas or electric, overall range decreases and fueling costs increase in harsher winter climates. That’s the unfortunate news for all drivers, regardless of powertrain. 

The good news for EV owners is that seasonal fluctuations don’t impact daily driving or charging as much as they expect. However, it is something that should be considered for winter road trips, where highway speeds emphasize reduced range and drivers must rely on public networks while away from the comforts of home charging. 

  • Freezing temperatures represents 32F or 0C
  • Ideal temperatures represents the max range we see for that particular model, between 68F and 74F.

The battery science team at Recurrent processes hundreds of millions of EV miles each year. For the 2024/2024 winter study, we are analyzing real-world driving data from over 18,000 vehicles in the US across 20 popular models. 

Best EV Winter Range vs Range in Ideal Temps

  1. Tesla Model X
  2. Tesla Model S
  3. Tesla Model 3 with heat pump‍
  4. Audi e-tron - 2021 and 2022 model years with the Premium Plus trim‍
  5. Tesla Model Y
  6. Nissan LEAF - SL/SV Plus with 62 kWh battery
  7. Ford F-150 Lightning - Ford data includes only the 2022 and 2023 model year. No recent data available.
  8. Chevrolet Bolt - 2017 to 2022 model years
  9. Ford Mustang Mach-E - Ford data includes only the 2021 model year. No recent data available.
  10. VW ID.4 - 2021 model year with 82 kWh battery

EV Models Currently Being Tested

Additional information on each model can be found on the linked vehicle pages. 

What’s the deal with EV heat pumps?

Electric cars produce very little waste heat compared to traditional gas-powered cars — think about how hot the hood of a gas car is after a long drive. To heat the cabin and maintain battery performance, EVs must generate their own heat, either through a resistance heater or a more efficient heat pump. 

The heat pump works by transferring heat from the outside air, even in cold conditions. Similar to an air conditioner running in reverse, a heat pump uses refrigerant and compression to produce hot air much more efficiently. For every unit of electricity consumed, a heat pump can generate 3-4 units of heat, making it significantly more energy-efficient than resistive heating. However, its efficiency diminishes as temps drop below 14F.

Tesla Model 3 with heat pump

Not every EV comes standard with a heat pump. We created a comprehensive list of vehicles that offer heat pumps in the US. As you can see, it can vary by model year and trim. 

Why does cold weather affect electric vehicle range?

Winter range loss occurs for a few reasons. We cover them in detail in our hot and cold temperature article but the two main contributing factors are chemical and mechanical.

  • Chemical and physical reactions in the battery occur more slowly in cold temperatures. Cold temperatures inhibit chemical reactions and act as resistance that slows down the physical processes. This reduces the EVs available power. 
  • The major reason that EVs lose range in the winter is due to cabin heating to keep the driver and passengers warm. Unlike in a conventional car, electric cars have to use energy to produce cabin heat. In the internal combustion engine (ICE) that powers traditional cars,  the “waste heat” generated by the engine can be pumped directly into the car to warm people up. On the other hand, an EV has a much more efficient motor which does not generate nearly as much heat. The heaters that keep the car warm generally draw energy from the high voltage battery, reducing how much capacity is left for driving. 

Although other organizations have studied the effect of cold weather on range, including AAA, they are often completed in laboratory settings or with a small vehicle sample. This ongoing research project includes a much larger data set under real world driving conditions.

Is winter range loss permanent or damaging to the vehicle?

No, any range loss from winter weather is temporary and there is no long term detriment to your battery. As the ice melts and the temperatures rise, your vehicle’s expected range at full charge should return to normal. EV owners who connect to the Recurrent platform can track that over time. 

Tips for avoiding winter range loss

  • It takes more energy to warm up a cold car than to keep a warm car warm. So, as much as possible, you want to warm up your car while it’s still charging. This is called preconditioning. 
  • Preconditioning is available in most EVs using your phone’s app or by setting up a departure time. Some vehicles also offer a “winter weather” package that is specially designed to keep battery temperatures in an ideal zone so they are always ready when you start to drive. 
  • Once your car is warm and you’re on the road, plan to use seat warmers, a heated steering wheel, and turn down the cabin heater. These features use less energy and provide targeted heat, giving you more battery to travel. 
  • Prepare for longer charge times. To protect the high voltage battery, many cars limit the charging voltage when the battery is cold. Regular charge speed will return when the battery has warmed up.  
  • In many newer EVs, if you use the in-car navigation system to head to a charger, the car will condition the battery for optimal charging temperature, meaning your charge time may be reduced. 
  • Turn down regenerative braking on icy roads. You will want to be able to engage your brakes more than in temperate conditions. 
  • Regenerative braking may also be limited by your battery management system if the battery is cold, since a cold battery cannot charge as fast as a warm one.
  • When possible, store your EV plugged in with a maximum charge setting of 70 or 80%. That way, the car can pull energy from the wall to keep warm, rather than using the battery. Otherwise, you may return to a lower battery capacity than expected. 

About the data

This analysis includes aggregated and anonymized data from over 10,000 vehicles in the Recurrent community from across the United States as well as tens of thousands of data points from on-board devices that provide data on energy usage. 

You can learn more about our team here or media can contact our team for interviews on the media page.