How well can EVs handle the heat — and the cold? AAA put them to the test
AAA tested how extreme temperatures affect electric vehicle range and found that cold weather reduces range by an average of 39%, while hot weather reduces it by 8.5%. Despite advancements in EV technology since 2019, winter performance has not significantly improved. The tests were conducted using a chassis dynamometer in a climate-controlled chamber at AAA's Automotive Research Center in Los Angeles.
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Exclusive Business How well can EVs handle the heat — and the cold? AAA put them to the test May 1, 20267:00 AM ET Camila Domonoske An electric vehicle charges at an EVgo electric charger in Monrovia, Calif. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images hide caption toggle caption Justin Sullivan/Getty Images Electric vehicle batteries are a lot like people, in one important respect: They're most comfortable in temperatures around 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. When the weather gets much colder or hotter than that, a battery works less efficiently. It has to work harder, too, to keep the vehicle's cabin comfortable for its equally picky human occupants. The result? Electric vehicles can't drive as far or as efficiently in extremely hot or cold weather.
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