Electric vehicles (EVs) often allow for remote cabin conditioning, ensuring drivers enter a warm vehicle. However, cold weather can significantly impact their range. If you expect to achieve the manufacturer's official range rating during freezing temperatures, you might be in for a surprise. But just how much range can you expect to lose?
A comprehensive test conducted by Chinese media examined various popular models to uncover the effects of cold weather on EV range. While the sample includes many Chinese cars, it also features several international models.
In this testing scenario, 45 popular vehicles were driven at temperatures between 8-10 °C, with maximum regeneration settings, climate control set to 25 °C in economy mode, all-season tires, and eco-driving mode. The tests were performed under three different scenarios: 30 km/h in the city (100 km distance), 60 km/h (100 km distance), and 100 km/h on the highway (153 km distance). Although 8 °C isn't extremely cold, it adequately demonstrates how different manufacturers' vehicles perform in cooler climates.
The BMW i3 eDrive 35L excelled in the test, retaining an impressive 80.5% (424 km) of its advertised range. The Ford Mustang Mach-E GT and Nio ET5 followed closely, retaining 79.7% and 79.0%, respectively.
Among the top 14 vehicles tested, most achieved approximately 70-80% of their stated range, with the Volvo XC40 and Arcfox aS HI losing around 40% of their expected range.
| Model | kWh/100 km @ 30 km/h | kWh/100 km @ 60 km/h | kWh/100 km @ 100 km/h | Actual range | % of advertised range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BMW i3 eDrive 35L | 15.6 | 15.6 | 18.8 | 424 km / 263 mi | 80.5% |
| Ford Mustang Mach-E GT | 17.4 | 20.5 | 25.0 | 392 km / 244 mi | 79.7% |
| Nio ET5 100 kW | 16.8 | 16.3 | 21.0 | 561 km / 349 mi | 79.0% |
| BMW iX3 | 18.3 | 17.5 | 21.5 | 422 km / 262 mi | 78.8% |
| Audi Q4 e-tron 40 | 14.7 | 18.1 | 23.2 | 470 km / 292 mi | 77.7% |
| Zeekr 001 4WD | 20.2 | 18.5 | 23.8 | 485 km / 301 mi | 74.5% |
| IM L7 | 19.2 | 19.4 | 23.6 | 452 km / 281 mi | 73.5% |
| Rising Auto R7 | 19.3 | 18.9 | 24.4 | 437 km / 272 mi | 72.1% |
| Nissan Ariya 87kWh | 22.1 | 22.4 | 28.3 | 376 km / 234 mi | 70.5% |
| Polestar 2 LR FWD | 18.3 | 19.9 | 23.1 | 387 km / 240 mi | 68.3% |
| Maxus Mifa 9 | 23.5 | 23.0 | 30.3 | 357 km / 222 mi | 66.2% |
| Cadillac Lyriq RWD | 21.4 | 20.8 | 25.4 | 427 km / 265 mi | 65.4% |
| Volvo XC40 Recharge SR RWD | 19.0 | 19.7 | 24.7 | 331 km / 206 mi | 60.2% |
| Arcfox aS HI | 24.1 | 23.8 | 27.8 | 297 km / 185 mi | 59.3% |
Overall, there is little difference in energy consumption between 30 km/h and 60 km/h, as the increased heating often compensates for aerodynamic drag. However, driving at 100 km/h significantly impacts battery usage, with most vehicles exceeding 20 kWh/100 km, except for the BMW i3, which posted a commendable 18.8 kWh/100 km.
On the PHEV and ER front, vehicles generally retained about 70% of their advertised range.
| Model | Advertised battery range | Actual battery range | % of advertised range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Geely Emgrand L Leishen Hi-P | 100 km / 62 mi (NEDC) | 55 km / 34 mi | 54.6% |
| Changan Deepal SL03 | 200 km / 124 mi (CLTC) | 136 km / 85 mi | 68.2% |
| Haval H6 | 110 km / 68 mi (NEDC) | 73 km / 45 mi | 66.3% |
| BYD Song Plus | 110 km / 68 mi (NEDC) | 94 km / 58 mi | 85.2% |
| Geely Monjaro Hi-P | 245 km / 152 mi (CLTC) | 167 km / 104 mi | 68.3% |
| Wey Mocha | 175 km / 109 mi (CLTC) | 149 km / 93 mi | 85% |
| AITO M5 | 170 km / 106 mi (CLTC) | 133 km / 83 mi | 78.4% |
| Lynk & Co 09 | 190 km / 118 mi (CLTC) | 140 km / 87 mi | 73.8% |
| AITO M7 | 200 km / 124 mi (CLTC) | 125 km / 78 mi | 62.3% |
| Li L8 | 210 km / 130 mi (CLTC) | 152 km / 94 mi | 72.2% |
| Li L9 | 215 km / 134 mi (CLTC) | 153 km / 95 mi | 71% |
For more details, check out the original video which is in Chinese but features English subtitles.
If your car isn't on this list, we also provide a useful tool that estimates real-world range in a variety of weather conditions (down to -30 °C) and speeds, featuring even more vehicles available in Western markets.
