Overview

• Electric vehicles (EVs) can lose up to 30% of their range in freezing temperatures, with the loss of power linked to the slower flow of lithium ions in the battery due to the cold.
• Preconditioning, or preheating the battery, can help mitigate the effects of cold weather on EVs, allowing for more efficient charging and usage.
• EVs can take longer to charge in cold weather as most are designed to boost their battery temperatures when the thermometer drops, which can result in a doubling or even tripling of charging time in some older models.
• Heat pumps, which draw warmth from outside and run it through a condenser to raise the temperature, can help preserve range when it's cold and are standard in some EV models and optional in others.
• Despite the challenges, experts note that most drivers on a typical day aren't driving anywhere near the top of their vehicle's range, which for most is between 400 and 500 kilometres on a full charge.