EVs are battery-powered, and the lithium-ion batteries inside your EV don’t like freezing temperatures.
So, read on to find out why the winter months are so brutal on your EV’s range.
When the blue snowflake icon is present, your Tesla’s regenerative braking might be restricted to some capacity.
Car companies implemented these measures toprotect their EV’s batteriesduring freezing weather.
That’s because charging your battery in conditions like this is detrimental to the battery’s health.
A cold battery will also charge much slower than a warmed battery.
Image Credit:Electrify America
Tesla offers a preconditioning option for your battery while the vehicle is still plugged in.
This is a great way that car manufacturers are finding to complement yourEV-ready homewith their own vehicle’s tech.
This means that fast charging isn’t actually that fast during wintertime.
Image Credit:Electrify America
The publication put The Model 3 through its paces, and the resulting range loss was quite shocking.
The Model 3 used 121 miles of its indicated range to cover 64 real-world miles during the winter.
TheTesla Model 3has an EPA-estimated 310-mile range.
At the end of that same 64 mile drive, it indicated there were 189 miles of predicted range.
Once you’re done, your EV will have to warm up the cabin again.
The test included a 2017 Tesla Model S 75D.
Regardless, it’s difficult to imagine the heat pump recovering lost 41% in range.
Winter conditions are tricky for EVs, especially when blasting the heat is a priority.
This allows the vehicle to warm up the cabin, and the battery, while you’re charging it.
