How Serious is EV Range Loss in Winter? Top 5 Tips to Minimize the Loss and Improve Winter Performance

Introduction

One of the major cons of electric vehicles is the loss of range in winter but how serious is this EV range loss in winter? The Seriousness of this can be understood from the recent research conducted by Recurrent Auto on 7000 EVs. The research reveals that EVs can lose up to 35% of their estimated range depending upon the make and model. So EV range loss in winter cannot be overlooked but don’t worry we will also be sharing some tips to minimize the loss.

If you think the best solution would be to buy an EV with the most range in your budget, you might be wrong. It would be wise to choose an EV that experiences the least percentage of range loss in freezing temperatures. Because the research shows that there is a huge variation in the degree of range lost in the winter. Loss of range in some EVs is as low as 3% while some EVs can lose almost one-third of their official range. 

Why Do EV Range Loss in Winter?

Lithium-ion batteries used in EVs these days are sensitive to temperature. The temperature of the battery pack of an EV must be close to its optimal operating temperature in order to give its best output. The findings of the research also point in the same direction, EVs fitted with heat pumps or some other thermal management system exhibit less range loss as compared to others. Heat Pumps help in maintaining the temperature of the battery pack in that ideal temperature range and also redirect the heat to the cabin.

Another major reason behind EV range loss in winter is the use of climate control to heat the cabin. Unlike the ICE vehicles, the heat generated from the motor in the electric vehicles is not even sufficient to warm the battery pack. Cabin heaters, seat heaters, and other accessories used by the climate control system all draw power from the battery pack which is why less battery level is available for driving. You might see a swift drop in battery levels in the initial miles and nearly usual battery consumption after that. Because the climate control system requires more power to heat up the cabin than to maintain the preset temperature inside. 

One more secondary reason for the EV range loss in winter is the unavailability of the regenerative braking system. Battery Management System turns down regenerative braking in freezing temperatures due to its unpredictable behavior on slippery winter roads. Regenerative braking applies a brake-like force to the wheels when the gas pedal is released due to which the tires can unexpectedly lose their grip. Therefore regenerative braking can land one in a dangerous situation due to its unpredictable handling characteristics. Those few extra miles restored by the regenerative braking make their importance felt in cold weather conditions. 

Impact of Winter on Electric Vehicles

The cold and hard truth about EV range loss in winter is that cold weather slows down the chemical reactions occurring in the battery. Due to slow chemical reactions, EV owners have to contend with limited power output from the battery and they also have to wait longer for the full charge. In Winter in order to protect the battery’s health, the battery management system also restricts high-voltage charging until the battery gets warm enough.

In winter the density of the air increases hence the vehicles experience more drag which can also make the battery work harder. So it is advisable to drive in a lower speed bracket in freezing temperatures because at higher speeds drag increases exponentially. You should also remove snow/ice from the roof, roof racks, or any other mounts to reduce the effect of drag.

Tips to Minimize EV Range Loss in Winter

To minimize the EV range loss in winter owners need to adjust their daily driving and charging patterns. The connected app of the EVs also offers a lot of smart functionalities that can make it convenient for the drivers to minimize the loss of range. Apart from that the basic eco-driving principles such as accelerating gently, braking slowly, and anticipating stoppages remain the same for every driver.

Automakers have integrated developments such as advanced thermal management systems and heat pumps in modern EVs to improve the winter performance of electric vehicles. EVs without heat pumps or connected apps can also deal with EV range loss in winter, the tips shared below to minimize the loss are common for both.

1. Always precondition the battery and cabin before departing from home so that the energy-intensive climate control system does not sap the range. Preconditioning the vehicle means heating or cooling a part of the vehicle before charging or driving. Modern EVs have a connected app that allows you to do it all from your phone without actually stepping into the vehicle.
2. In continuation of the above point, some of the connected apps also let you set a scheduled departure time so that it can automatically start a charging session accordingly. You have to leave the charger plugged in overnight and your vehicle will have desired battery level at the time of departure. Also, the battery and cabin will be preconditioned.
3. You should use heated seats and a heated steering wheel rather than a climate control system to save energy after you unplug. As these features are much more efficient in comparison because they target the driver and passenger directly. 
4. We would recommend setting a higher charging threshold of around 40% in winter which is usually set between 20-25% because of the slow charging rate and as a margin of safety for the drop-in range.
5. Keep a check on the tire’s pressure because in cold weather the density of the air increases due to which pressure can get lowered. And low tire pressure can lead to a decline in the estimated range.

Conclusion

EV range loss in winter cannot be a deterrent in your decision to switch to pure electric vehicles because there is a solution to this issue and we have also shared some tips to tackle the issue. Automakers and battery manufacturers are already working hard on new battery chemistries and hardware systems that promise more range and limited impact from colder temperatures. Hopefully, these issues may not even exist in future EVs. And we would also like to clarify that this drop in the range of electric vehicles is temporary and it does not deteriorate battery health in the long run.

Moreover, most of the EVs in the market these days even in the budget segment offers more than 200 miles of range. So even with a reduced range in winter, EVs can very well perform daily commute duties and you won’t be left stranded. For long-distance travel also, you need to plan your route and stoppages beforehand to avoid any type of inconvenience. Still, if you cannot get range anxiety out of your mind, we recommend you read our article on range anxiety.

Now if you are curious that the driver also needs to precondition the cabin in the summer then range loss should be a big issue in summer as well. But to your surprise, air conditioning systems in EVs are incredibly efficient, the battery consumption rate for AC is less than 1 percent per hour.