Very cold or hot weather—generally defined as below 20 degrees or above 95 degrees Fahrenheit, according to AAA—can cause a drop in EV range.
AAA tested the range effects of 20F degree weather on several popular EVs and found that temperature alone could reduce range by 10-12%, while the use of in-vehicle climate control could amplify range loss to 40%.
Firstly, and most directly, temperature effects the efficiency of a battery. EV batteries are designed to work at an “optimal temperature”, generally around 20°C. The colder (or indeed warmer) it gets, the less efficient a battery will become, as we mentioned in our EV Winter Driving tips article.
Like an ICE engine, an EV motor needs to be kept within a certain temperature range to run efficiently -- between 90-95 ℃. Going beyond that range in an EV causes overheating, during which the engine may run inefficiently or enter safe mode.
Article content. Gasoline and diesel engines generate so much heat that if they're not properly cooled, they can self-destruct in a matter of minutes. Electric vehicles (EVs) obviously don't have that engine issue, but their batteries need to be cooled to help preserve their performance and lifespan.
As the motor temperature increases, the resistance will increase and the torque constant and voltage constant will decrease. This results in an increase in no-load speed and a decrease in locked-rotor torque.
What's the best temperature range for a Tesla? Anything around 70°F is generally ideal for an electric car - so if you're comfortable, so is the car. There's no official lower limit to driving an electric car – but just be aware that the expected range could drop more quickly than you expect.
After an accident, any hidden damage to the modules or individual cells within the battery pack can cause overheating. Over-charging of the battery pack during re-charging can also cause thermal runaway.
Estimates vary, but according to a study from AAA, EVs can lose about 40% of their range when the temperature drops from 75 degrees to 20 degrees Fahrenheit.
How Extreme Weather Affects an Electric Car's Battery. Very cold or hot weather—generally defined as below 20 degrees or above 95 degrees Fahrenheit, according to AAA—can cause a drop in EV range.
The battery performance can be heavily affected by temperature. An ideal operating temperature for a car battery is around 26.7 degrees Celsius or 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
On average, EV batteries only degrade at a rate of 2.3% of maximum capacity per year, so with proper care you can reliably expect your EV battery to last as long or longer than ICE drivetrain components.
Cabin Overheat Protection
'On' uses air conditioning to prevent the cabin from exceeding 105° F / 40° C.
Tesla vehicles are known for their durability and ability to withstand the harshest of conditions - both hot and cold. Tesla vehicles are known for being the safest vehicles on the planet - but they also have another feature that makes them desirable - their ability to withstand ice-cold temperatures and extreme heat.
Are Teslas good in hot weather? Tesla EVs are just like other EVs in hot weather. However, the manufacturer has taken extra steps to minimize the effect of hot climates on their cars, including a battery cooling system and an efficient air-conditioning system.
The 10°C temperature di erential between the Class F insulation maximum temperature rating (155°C) and the allowable maximum temperature (145°C) provides an allowance for the “hotspot” temperature of the interior of the winding, which is di icult to measure directly.
Avoid raising the motor's temperature past 170°F; any hotter, and you run the risk of damaging the rotor's magnets. The good news is, most brushless power systems include thermal overload protection, which will shut the system down if the motor reaches critical temperature.
Car engines get so hot that you can fry an egg off them, and that's no exaggeration. You'll be looking at a temperature of anywhere from 195 to 200 degrees Fahrenheit. This is often why the materials under the hood and housing the engine are near impossible to melt.
Heating and Air Conditioning
Bumping up the heat or air conditioning for comfort while driving takes more energy from the battery. Controlling the interior and battery temperature is the biggest power drain second to driving the vehicle.
AAA found that, compared with their ranges at a baseline temp of 75 degrees Fahrenheit, the five tested EVs saw an average range loss of 12% when running in 20 degree weather and 4% in 95 degree heat. What's more, some EVs won't allow fast-charging when the pack is too cold, as that could damage the battery.
“You want to avoid below 10 percent and more than 90 percent. You don't want to go from fully charged to fully empty.” Not unlike cell phones, EVs are getting smarter about managing that issue intelligently and helping you avoid shortening your battery's life with either too much charging or too much battery depletion.
Life Expectancy
Generally, electric vehicle batteries last 10-20 years, but some factors may reduce their lifespan. For instance, batteries may degrade faster in hotter climates as heat does not pair well with EVs.
“Today, most EV batteries have a life expectancy of 15 to 20 years within the car – and a second life beyond.”
These batteries are constructed in two different ways: spirally wound batteries, which offer a maximum service life of approximately 10 years; and bobbin-type cells, which are the only lithium batteries that can deliver 25+ years of service life.