How well do electric cars work in cold weather? Check here

While electric vehicles might be a better option over petrol and diesel ones, they may require a little extra care during the winter season. Frozen windshields, tight door handles, loss of grip on snow-covered roads and increased fuel consumption are some of the major issues motorists have to deal with during the cold season.

A study by the American Automobile Association (AAA) published in 2019, stated that both hybrid and electric vehicles tend to lose charge and range from their battery packs.

Modern EVs are however, designed to maintain the battery temperature. But during harsh winters, motorists inside their electric vehicles turn on the heating system which results in a huge amount of energy being drawn from the car battery.


According to the same study, EVs tend to lose around 40 per cent of their range when the temperature drop is observed from 75 degrees to 20 degrees Fahrenheit.

Another issue with EVs is that their charging stations are mostly installed outside the owners’ houses or in uninsulated garages that are all affected by the cold weather conditions.



Charging is also comparatively slower in colder climates as the vehicles tend to store and maintain energy to keep the batteries warm.

For those having installed their EV charging stations outdoors, they have to consider whether the charger is NEMA 4-rated. A NEMA 4-rated product will be able to provide protection to several things such as internal equipment against foreign objects like dirt, wind, rain, snow and other external factors.

FAQs:

1. What are electric vehicles?
   EVs are a mode of transport that is powered completely by electricity. Electric cars and trucks use electric motors that have electricity from batteries or a fuel cell.
2. Does charging EVs take longer during winters?
   Charging an electric car will take much longer in cold weather conditions.