What The Science Says:
Extreme temperatures can decrease EV range, particularly extreme cold, but gasoline-powered cars are also susceptible to extreme weather conditions and EVs may actually be more reliable than gasoline-powered cars in the cold.
Climate Myth: Electric vehicles cannot function in hot or cold weather
"Temperature affects EVs in bad ways." (Top Speed)
Extreme temperatures can decrease EV range, particularly extreme cold, but this issue is not unique to EVs. According to a 2019 American Automobile Association report, when compared to conditions of 75°F with the HVAC set to Off, a typical EV’s range decreased by 12% at 20°F, and by 4% at 95°F1. When comparing conditions with the HVAC set to Auto, a temperature drop from 72°F to 20°F decreased a typical EV’s range by 41%2, and a temperature rise from 72°F to 95°F decreased range by 17%. However, EV models are increasingly adopting heat pump technology in place of traditional electric resistance heating3, which can minimize the electricity consumption associated with heating an electric vehicle in extreme cold4.
Traditional gasoline-powered cars are likewise susceptible to extreme weather conditions. Fuel economy tests have also shown a decrease in mileage per gallon for conventional gasoline cars due to temperature drops, with mileage roughly 15% lower at 20°F than at 72°F5. As with EVs, decreased fuel efficiency for conventional gasoline cars in extreme weather is partially attributable to increased reliance on HVAC systems. Both EVs and gasoline-powered cars are likewise susceptible to cold temperatures lowering tire pressure6.
Data from a roadside assistance company in Norway suggests that, by one metric, EVs may actually be more reliable than gasoline-powered cars in the cold7. In particular, whereas internal combustion engines sometimes have trouble starting in the cold, this problem appears to be less common for EVs: while 23% of cars in Norway are EVs, only 13% of reported cases involving cars that failed to turn on in the cold were EVs8.
Footnotes:
[1] Federico Alcala, 15 Disadvantages of Electric Cars, TopSpeed (Jul. 6, 2023).
[2] AAA Electric Vehicle Range Testing, American Automobile Association, 32, 51 (2019).
[3] Carolyn Fortuna, Why Heat Pumps Are Essential for EVs When the Weather Is Cold, CleanTechnica, Jan. 22, 2024
[4] Shannon Osaka, Why you might want a heat pump in your electric car, Washington Post, Jan 7 2023.
[5] Fuel Economy in Cold Weather, US Dep't Energy (last visited March 25, 2024).
[6] Sydnie Gjerald, Winter Range: ICE vs EV, UTILMARC, Jan. 4 2022.
[7] Fred Lambert, Electric vehicles fail at a lower rate than gas cars in extreme cold, ELECTREK, Jan. 17, 2024.
[8] Emily Schmall & Jenny Gross, Electric Car Owners Confront a Harsh Foe: Cold Weather, N.Y. TIMES, Jan. 17, 2024.
This rebuttal is based on the report "Rebutting 33 False Claims About Solar, Wind, and Electric Vehicles" written by Matthew Eisenson, Jacob Elkin, Andy Fitch, Matthew Ard, Kaya Sittinger & Samuel Lavine and published by the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law at Columbia Law School in 2024. Skeptical Science sincerely appreciates Sabin Center's generosity in collaborating with us to make this information available as widely as possible.
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