E-cars in winter: How cold affects range and battery
In winter, it takes a little more energy to get up to speed – this applies to e-cars as well as to people. How significant the difference is is a surprise for some e-car drivers. If the car can cover a distance of 300 kilometres on a single battery charge in summer, it may be over after 200 kilometres in sub-zero temperatures.
The reason for this? Lithium-ion batteries are most powerful at a temperature between 15 and 35 degrees. At lower temperatures, the voltage drops because the electrochemical processes inside the cells take place more slowly. This means that less energy can be taken from the battery. To ensure that the battery still works, it is heated by a sophisticated battery management system at start-up. This costs energy – which comes from the battery. As a result, the range of the electric car decreases in winter.
This is why the range of electric cars decreases in winter
In addition, the interior heating of the electric car ensures higher electricity consumption in winter. Gasoline engines use the waste heat from the engine for heating. In the case of efficient electric cars, on the other hand, the passenger cell, windows, seats and steering wheel are heated with electrical energy from the traction battery. This is at the expense of the battery life - the range decreases. One consolation: it warms up faster in an electric car, as the heater does not have to wait for the waste heat from the engine.
Stopping at the charging station is also more comfortable in winter: The battery of an electric car needs significantly more time to be full again in frosty outside temperatures. The reason for this is again the battery management system. It throttles the charging power to save the battery. This is because the battery cannot take on as much charge in winter as usual, as the liquid electrolyte in each cell becomes more viscous in the cold. This means that fewer ions can migrate from cathode to anode. If the charging station were to deliver as much energy to the battery as in summer, it would be damaged in the long run. For the stop at the fast charger, you should therefore plan twice the time in winter.
Electric cars need 10 to 30 percent more electricity in winter
By the way, the higher consumption in winter is not a convincing argument against the e-car. Gasoline cars also swallow more in the cold – about 15 percent on average. For diesel vehicles, the figure is even up to 24 percent more. This is partly due to the snow on the road: the engine needs more energy to cope with this resistance.
Lubricants are also tougher in the cold, which causes metal parts of the powertrain to rub against each other more strongly. These small factors add up. From this point of view, the additional consumption of electric cars in the cold season is quite moderate: According to the ADAC, it is usually between 10 and 30 percent. Accordingly, the range of electric cars decreases in winter.
A series of tests by the ADAC shows that commuters in particular have to be prepared for the fact that the total range of their electric car decreases significantly in winter. The effect is particularly strong if the battery cools down again and again between short trips. In this case, the car's battery management system always ensures that the battery is sufficiently heated. Since a battery weighs several hundred kilograms, this requires a lot of energy. The larger the battery and the colder the outside temperature, the more energy the system needs to run stably. In cars with smaller batteries, the loss of range is therefore also lower – they warm up faster.
E-cars in winter: Large loss of range on short distances
The following table from the ADAC shows how much the range of e-cars in winter can differ from that in summer. The testers drove short distances of 23 kilometres, with the journeys lasting 30 minutes each. In between, the battery cooled down every time. Depending on the model, the loss of range was between 25 and 50 percent. Bringing up the rear was the VW ID.3. With this electric car, the range drops from a possible 324 to only 162 kilometers in winter. Conclusion: If you want to save electricity, avoid short distances with longer breaks in between in frosty temperatures if possible.
| Model | Range at +14 °C | Range at −7 °C | Loss of reach in percent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fiat 500e | 244 km | 182 km | 25% |
| Renault Zoe | 351 km | 244 km | 30% |
| Hyundai Kona electric | 215 km | 147 km | 32% |
| Ford Mustang Mach-E | 300 km | 202 km | 33% |
| Lexus UX300e | 224 km | 141 km | 37% |
| Nissan Leaf e+ | 332 km | 210 km | 37% |
| VW ID.3 | 324 km | 162 km | 50% |
Source: ADAC
E-cars in winter: A heat pump is usually not worthwhile
To ensure that e-car drivers reach their destination safely in winter, car manufacturers have developed sophisticated heating strategies. For example, some electric cars have an additional heat pump installed. It uses waste heat from the battery storage system and the electric motor to heat the interior of the vehicle. This saves the battery and provides a little more range in cold weather - but only on long distances. According to tests by the ADAC, the installation of an expensive heat pump is not worthwhile for commuters. On the other hand, it makes sense to install software updates for the battery management system. These improve the heating strategy of the car and save the driver money when charging.
Do e-car drivers have to freeze in traffic jams?
One rumor persists: e-car drivers – so the myth goes – would have to freeze in traffic jams in winter because the heater would suck the battery empty at record speed. Tests by the ADAC have shown that there is not much truth to this prejudice. In fact, the heater consumes so little energy when stationary that even a winter night spent in the car does not drain the battery. Even in severe frost (−9 to −14 °C), a tested Renault Zoe still had 30 percent battery charge left after 12 hours. In the VW e-up, about 20 percent charge was still in the battery after the same time.
Economical through the winter with the e-car: Tips at a glance
Car owners can do a lot themselves to ensure that the battery lasts longer in the cold season. If you know the most important influencing factors, you can reduce the power consumption of your electric car – and thus get more range out of your electric car in winter. This winter is particularly worthwhile due to rising electricity prices.
- Charge and preheat before driving
- Use seat and steering wheel heating
- Put the vehicle in the garage
- Choose winter tyres with a smaller diameter
- Remove snow thoroughly
- Driving in Eco Mode
- Heat less
Tip 1: Why you should charge e-cars before driving in winter
Ideally, you should start the charging process on cold days so that the battery is full on time for departure. Then it is already warm. You should also preheat the interior of the vehicle while the e-car is still connected to the cable. This takes only 15 to 30 minutes and is done conveniently via app for most e-cars. Keeping the car warm costs much less energy than bringing a cold car to a comfortable temperature.
Tip 2: Use seat and steering wheel heating for e-cars in winter
If the driver sits alone in the car, the entire interior does not have to be brought up to cuddly temperature. It is more efficient to warm the body specifically with seat heating – this saves a lot of electricity. The steering wheel heating also consumes little energy, but ensures warm fingers and thus better grip. If you have to steer quickly in a dicey situation, this is a safety advantage.
Tip 3: Park your e-car in the garage in winter
Of course, electric cars can be parked outside in winter – but they are better off in the garage. Here, the battery does not freeze as quickly and therefore needs less energy to warm up again. The few degrees that it is warmer in the garage make a big difference in the e-car. The cost of building a garage starts at 1,200 euros – the investment can pay off in the long run.
Tip 4: Why smaller tires save electricity in winter
Winter tyres provide better traction in snow and slush – but they increase rolling resistance on dry roads. To overcome this resistance, the motor needs more energy. If you choose winter tyres with a smaller diameter and have them inflated as tightly as possible, you will mitigate this effect: rolling resistance is reduced and so is energy consumption. Don't feel like changing tyres? Some car owners switch to an inexpensive winter car in winter to protect their precious first car from road salt, grit and snow.
Tip 5: Thoroughly remove the snow from electric cars in winter
The same applies not only to electric cars in the cold season: snow on the roof and windows increases air resistance when driving. This increases consumption. In addition, driving with a snow cap is prohibited for good reason: the white splendor can blow onto the windshield of the person behind while driving and obstruct his view. Snow on the car roof can therefore be punished with a fine of 25 euros. For concealed headlights or turn signals, ten euros are due. Prudent drivers therefore reach for the hand brush after parking in snow.
Tip 6: Electric cars: In winter, the eco mode saves electricity
Most electric cars have an eco mode. What exactly is behind this depends on the manufacturer. Basically, the maximum energy is not called up in Eco mode – even when the driver is going full throttle. In addition, the Eco mode throttles the heating. Both save electricity. If you don't have an Eco mode, you can turn down the heating manually and avoid accelerating and braking hard while driving.
Tip 7: Heat less, dress warmer
Trivial, but effective: If you turn down the heating by one or two degrees, you automatically increase the range of your electric car. To ensure that no one has to freeze, a thick sweater is recommended in the e-car in winter. Tip: Put a blanket on the back seat for accompanying children. Their small bodies cool down faster. Safety experts, on the other hand, strongly advise against gloves when driving. During fast steering maneuvers, you don't have a good grip on the steering wheel.
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