Are Electric Vehicles Good in Cold Weather? What You Need to Know this Winter

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Are Electric Vehicles Good in Cold Weather? What You Need to Know this Winter

Posted on April 29, 2024

Extremely low temperatures can compromise any type of vehicle. Still, electric vehicles are said to suffer a little more than others. Indeed, the winter can be rugged to electric batteries, but new electric vehicles use cutting-edge technology to stay up and running. Despite technological advancements, are electric vehicles good in cold weather?

 

Let It Snow?

 

Most electric batteries in the automotive industry are made of a very temperature-sensitive lithium-ion combination. So, extreme temperatures can indeed affect their functioning. Nevertheless, it doesn’t mean EVs aren’t suitable for the Canadian market. In Norway, for instance, nearly 80% of cars sold in 2022 were EVs. With new technologies, EVs can brave even our coldest winters, delivering nearly uncompromised performance. 

 

In worst cases, the elements might impose minor inconveniences, like slower charging times, reduced battery life, and loss of up to 20% of range. Still, most electric vehicles have hundreds of kilometres of range, which means that such a reduction won’t affect much of your everyday driving habits.

 

You can mitigate those inconveniences by choosing models with regenerative braking. This system uses the kinetic energy from brakes to pump up your battery, extending its durability. Notice that not all models come with this feature from the factory, though. 

 

It’s advisable to keep your vehicle fully charged at all times for its best performance. More importantly, it’s essential to keep your battery warmed up. You can do so by driving short distances at regular intervals. It will probably happen anyway since it’s much better to jump into an EV for quick errands in the snow and walk through it! 

 

Snow-Ready Technologies

 

The EV industry is well aware of performance issues under freezing conditions. New models are coming with standard heat pumps to convert cold air into warm air in the cabin. ZF, a German carmaker, developed propane-assisted heat pumps, showing promising results. 

 

There are two main types of batteries: flow batteries and solid-state batteries. Flow batteries work on liquid electrolytes that freeze quite quickly during the winter. That’s why newer flow batteries come with low-freezing point acids. In contrast, solid-state batteries don’t use liquid components and are more reliable under freezing conditions. 

 

Buy Your EV in Scarborough Today

 

You’ll find the best prices and conditions for your favourite EV at Roadsport Chrysler in Scarborough, ON. Browse our inventory to see the newest releases in this segment. Book a test drive today and experience some incredible EV cold weather features.