Temperature has a significant effect on the driving range of electric vehicles (EVs), with both cold and hot conditions reducing range compared to optimal temperatures.
Effect of Temperature on EV Range
- Optimal Temperature: EV batteries perform best around 70°F (21.5°C). At this temperature, vehicles can exceed their rated range by up to 15%, achieving on average 115% of their rated distance.
- Cold Temperatures: Cold weather drastically reduces EV range. At 5°F (-15°C), EV range can drop to around 54% of the rated range, meaning a car rated for 250 miles may only achieve about 135 miles. Other studies find cold weather can reduce range by approximately 25% to 50%, especially at highway speeds or extremely low temperatures. This loss is mainly due to the battery chemistry being less efficient in cold and the additional energy used to heat the cabin, as EVs draw heating power directly from the battery (unlike combustion cars using engine waste heat).
- Hot Temperatures: High temperatures also negatively impact range, though generally less severely than cold. Range decreases as temperatures rise significantly above the optimal 70°F mark, but real-world extremes above 122°F (50°C) are rare and less studied. Cooling the cabin via air conditioning consumes battery power and reduces range.
Additional Factors Related to Temperature
- Using cabin heating and cooling systems affects range since they draw directly on the battery, with heating in cold weather having a major impact. Heat pumps, when available, can mitigate this energy use and improve range in cold weather.
- EV range losses due to temperature are part of a broader picture including factors like vehicle speed, aerodynamic drag, altitude, rolling resistance, and weather conditions, but temperature remains a key driver of range variability.
In summary, EV range peaks around moderate temperatures (around 70°F/21.5°C) and declines sharply in cold conditions and somewhat in hot conditions, primarily due to battery efficiency and energy use for climate control systems. This temperature effect can reduce range by up to half in extreme cold but can also be somewhat managed via pre-conditioning and heat pump technology in some EV models.
Original article by NenPower, If reposted, please credit the source: https://nenpower.com/blog/how-does-temperature-affect-ev-range/
