EVs from Tesla, Jaguar & Nissan lose range in low temperature According to a media report, several owners of electric vehicles (EVs) found the range of their cars severely degraded in extreme cold weather. Impacted vehicles included the Tesla Model 3, Nissan Leaf and Chevrolet Volt amongst others.
During the recent polar vortex that swept across the USA, one Volt user reported a total range of 274 km range instead of the usual 435 km. Other cars like Tesla Model 3 reported a 50-percent degradation while some electric car users reported a 30-percent fall in the total range during the cold weather. Some vehicles reported a lower range in the MID, while others reported a higher power draw in cold climate. In case of the Jaguar iPace, the battery took a longer time to recharge as well.
Electric vehicles have a US Environment Protection Agency (EPA) rated range like ARAI rated fuel economy. However, this is conducted under optimum conditions and many factors like usage of heater / AC, headlights, outside temperature, window defoggers, terrain and driving style affect the total range of the EV.
Batteries offer optimal performance at 21.1 Celsius. At lower temperatures, the internal structure resists the movement of current leading to a reduced storage capacity. In case of higher temperatures, batteries can potentially overheat, which could damage their internal chemistry, eventually leading to a shorter life. Further, most EVs have regenerative braking systems that are also reported to lose their efficiency.
Source: CNBC Link to the Team-BHP News
Last edited by blackwasp : 6th February 2019 at 21:30.
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