EV cold weather performance worries some drivers. However, three points offer reassurance for even the most hesitant driver that EVs can manage just fine in colder temperatures.

1. EVs are already operating in some of the coldest regions in the world

2. EVs typically offer features to help offset the impact of winter weather

3. There are practical steps anyone can take to help extend battery range when driving in cold temperatures

Let’s explore why cold weather impacts EVs and what you can do to optimize an EV’s cold weather performance.

Does cold weather impact your EV’s range?

In short, yes!

Electric vehicles perform best around 70°F or 21 °C. It’s a fact that colder temperatures somewhat diminish an EV’s driving range. What’s more, some vehicle operations like climate control burns extra energy.

However, what’s important to know is that EVs perform just fine in cold weather. In fact, they are heavily used in some of the coldest regions in the world.

EVs are operating in cold regions

Electric vehicles already have a proven track record of cold-weather operations.

Do you know Norway leads the world with EV adoption? All-electric vehicles made up approximately 80% of passenger vehicle sales in Norway in 2022. And that’s not all. The second-ranking country for EV adoption is Iceland, followed by Sweden!

However, EV drivers still need to understand the impact of the weather and take preventative measures to help minimize the impact if range is a concern.

Here are some practical steps to improve EV cold weather performance.

Preconditioning helps improve EV cold weather performance

When it’s cold, much like its gasoline and diesel counterparts, it’s good to warm up an EV. The batteries need to be brought to an ideal temperature. However, just like an internal combustion engine, warming up an EV’s batteries takes energy. The colder the batteries, the greater the amount of power needed to heat them.

But there is a way to heat an EV’s batteries while conserving more of their charge for actual driving.

Battery heating can be carried out in advance if the driver sets the vehicle’s preconditioning function. It is best to set the preconditioning function during charging. With the vehicle connected to the grid, the batteries will be brought to an ideal temperature without sapping their charge.

Avoid heating the cabin

EVs have heaters and you can use them to heat the cab.

However, the colder the day, the more energy it takes to bring the cab to a comfortable temperature. So, if range is a concern refraining from using them will help preserve the battery’s charge for driving.

Then how can a driver keep warm? The answer is to heat the driver instead of the environment.

Heat the driver

One way to reduce energy consumption on a cold day is to utilize an EV’s heated steering wheel and seat. Heating your body and hands directly is much more efficient than heating the entire cab. It keeps you surprisingly warm while preserving the battery range.

Driver behavior can improve an EV’s overall efficiency

While electric vehicles have features that can mitigate the effect of cold temperatures, a driver’s behavior can go a long way toward increasing an electric vehicle’s efficiency. Here are a few ways.

Driving habits

As a rule of thumb, traveling at a constant speed, be it in an electric or petrol vehicle, results in the greatest efficiency. Therefore, refraining from rapid acceleration or severe braking can help preserve an EV’s range.

Route planning

Maintaining constant speeds may be difficult in stop-and-go traffic. Therefore, properly planning routes to avoid peak traffic hours and the busiest streets as well as steep inclines can help increase efficiency.

Properly schedule charging

While charging a personal EV at home can be relatively simple, scheduling charging time for electric fleet vehicles can be trickier depending on their routes, time of operation, and workload. Therefore, assuring that each vehicle has enough time to charge is important for ensuring a battery’s full range is always available.

RIZON Trucks are ready for cold weather

RIZON trucks feature EV technology and know-how from the entire Daimler Truck Group, which maintains EV customers in some of the coldest regions in the world.

RIZON trucks are designed to perform in cold climates, thanks to battery preconditioning features that warm the battery during AC charging. Inside the cab, a cost-effective PTC heater offers precise temperature control, output management, and energy-saving heating and defrost functions. Coupled with a seat and steering wheel heater offers drivers comfort and efficiency.

No matter the season, RIZON has your business covered.

Find out how medium-duty electric trucks can help your business. For more information, check out our brochure.