Drive range of EVs drops drastically in cold weather

Winter fuel efficiency in EVs falls behind petrol, diesel and hybrid cars. Mileage in conventional vehicles falls about 12% at temperatures below 20ºF compared to a 34% drop in hybrids while research shows the distance travelled by EVs was 57% on a single charge than at 75ºF. In addition to weather-related inefficiency, cabin heaters can drain large amounts of battery energy. Experts recommend, often via smartphone app, warming the cabin remotely using electricity from the grid prior to travel, or using seat warmers rather than cabin heaters.

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Every driver knows that no matter what type of car you have, winter is taking its toll: lower fuel efficiency, reduced tire pressure, and frozen windshield wipers and washer solvent, are a few examples.

What you might not know is that all-electric cars suffer far greater in winter time — in terms of fuel efficiency — compared to gasoline and diesel guzzlers.

But there is a way to lengthen the life of your battery during these frigid times.

Let's first compare the numbers:

When temperatures drop below 20 degrees Fahrenheit (F), conventional gasoline cars see a dip in gas mileage of about 12% , while in hybrids that mileage drops by as much as 34% , according to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and US Energy Department.

, while in hybrids that mileage drops by as much as , according to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and US Energy Department. That's nothing compared to all-electric cars. In 2014, the AAA Automotive Research Center in Southern California published the results of its study that tested how the driving range of three all-electric vehicles (EVs) varied with temperature. At a steady 20 degrees F, the all-electric vehicles traveled a shocking 57% shorter distance on a single charge than they did at 75 degrees F. On average, an EV's batteries transported drivers 105 miles at 75 degrees F, but only 43 miles at 20 degrees F.

Part of the reason for these nasty numbers is because batteries simply don't run as efficiently in the cold. But another big problem could be the way you're warming the car's cabin. Cabin heaters zap large amounts of energy from the batteries.

"EVs are not able to scavenge waste heat for cabin heating the way a conventional vehicle can with an internal-combustion engine," Henning Lohse-Busch, manager for vehicle-systems research at Argonne National Laboratory's Center for Transportation Research, told Business Insider.

Thankfully, there's a better way. You can avoid draining your batteries to warm up your cabin and extend the car's range by plugging it in before you drive it. That way, you're taking energy directly from the grid, and not your batteries.

Another perk of this approach is that you can do it remotely, within the comfort of your home or office, Lohse-Busch said:

Nearly all modern Plug-in Electric Vehicles (PEVs) have the capacity to warm the cabin remotely using electricity from the grid while the vehicle is still plugged in, often using a smart phone app. This approach makes sense on cold days, as you won't be using your battery's electricity to initially warm the vehicle, which would reduce your range. If your vehicle is not plugged in to the grid, you can still remotely warm it, but you will be using your vehicle's batteries for that warming, and your range will be decreased.

Once you're on the road, another way to conserve energy and extend range is to use the seat warmers instead of the cabin heater, according to the EPA and Energy Department.

Note: If you own a conventional gasoline car, you should try to avoid warming your cabin until after you start driving. Letting the car sit in the driveway while running can have detrimental effects on your engine. Learn more here.