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Autoweek (and other car news outlets) summarize some independent testing: https://autoweek.com/article/green-cars/how-much-does-cold-weather-cut-electric-vehicle-range-quite-bit-aaa-study-finds
AAA partnered with the Automotive Club of Southern California's Automotive Research Center for its tests, which allowed it to run drive-simulating dynamometer tests in 20-, 75- and 95-degree Fahrenheit temperatures in a controlled laboratory setting. This is way more scientific than anything we'd be able to achieve toodling around in an EV in Detroit the next time a polar vortex hits.
A handful of key points pulled from the report:
- The increased use of HVAC systems in extreme temperatures has a bigger impact on EV range than decreases in battery pack efficiency caused by the temperatures themselves.
- Moreover, while both extremely hot and extremely cold temperatures affect range, you'll incur a significantly larger penalty when heating up a cabin than you will cooling one down. Compare that 41 percent decrease at 20 F to a mere 17 percent decrease at 95 F.
- The BMW i3s saw the biggest reductions in range in both hot and cold conditions, losing 50 and 21 percent of range in cold and hot conditions, respectively.
- The Nissan Leaf was the most versatile, losing 31 and 11 percent of range in cold and hot conditions, respectively.
The other test cars, Tesla S, eGolf and Chevy Bolt fell between these extremes. The article includes a link (pdf) to the original report with many more details. Worth reading if you live outside southern CA and are considering an electric car.
This AC is considering an electric car, and I'm fortunate enough to have an attached garage to keep it warm-ish, probably above freezing, even if the outside temp gets down to 0F (-18C) which is a typical low for my location. That means that any trip will start with a cool (not cold) battery & cabin...but after parking outdoors at my destination(s), I'll have a reduced range for the trip home.
(Score: 2) by NewNic on Thursday May 16 2019, @05:05PM (10 children)
In my Leaf, you can turn off the cabin heater and A/C. You can control the fan independently. So, while there is no single on/off switch, it can be effectively switched off. I think the same is true for most cars.
lib·er·tar·i·an·ism ˌlibərˈterēənizəm/ noun: Magical thinking that useful idiots mistake for serious political theory
(Score: 2) by KilroySmith on Thursday May 16 2019, @05:12PM
I think the point is that AAA probably put the climate control system on some standard temperature like 20C, which gives pessimistic data relative to real-world degradation usage. If you've got a coat on, you probably have your climate control set to (perhaps) 0C in the Chicago winter, and not 20C.
(Score: 2) by hemocyanin on Thursday May 16 2019, @11:13PM (8 children)
My 2012 leaf has a labeled button on the dash to totally turn off/on climate controls. When it is on, you can set desired temp, fan, AC, which vents are used. Off just shuts it all down.
(Score: 2) by NewNic on Thursday May 16 2019, @11:36PM (7 children)
I'll have to look at the controls of my 2016 Leaf.
lib·er·tar·i·an·ism ˌlibərˈterēənizəm/ noun: Magical thinking that useful idiots mistake for serious political theory
(Score: 2) by hemocyanin on Thursday May 16 2019, @11:47PM (6 children)
If this picture accurately shows a 2016 model's climate controls, the button right below the big silver "auto" button is the kill switch: https://images.hgmsites.net/lrg/2016-nissan-leaf-4-door-hb-sl-temperature-controls_100539211_l.jpg [hgmsites.net]
I wonder if it really is a 2016 -- that looks exactly like my 2012 climate control panel. But I suppose with a low volume car like that, they didn't do much fiddling.
(Score: 2) by NewNic on Friday May 17 2019, @12:00AM
That looks nothing like the controls on my 2016 Leaf.
lib·er·tar·i·an·ism ˌlibərˈterēənizəm/ noun: Magical thinking that useful idiots mistake for serious political theory
(Score: 2) by NewNic on Friday May 17 2019, @12:05AM (4 children)
Page 180 on this document:
https://cdn.dealereprocess.net/cdn/servicemanuals/nissan/2016-leaf.pdf [dealereprocess.net]
Mine is the "Type A" and it does have an off switch.
lib·er·tar·i·an·ism ˌlibərˈterēənizəm/ noun: Magical thinking that useful idiots mistake for serious political theory
(Score: 2) by hemocyanin on Friday May 17 2019, @05:09AM
That's weird -- It doesn't make any sense to disable a power saving function. I wonder what knucklehead was responsible for that.
(Score: 2) by hemocyanin on Friday May 17 2019, @05:13AM (2 children)
Look at page 4-26. It appears that the left side knob can be pressed to turn the system off -- see note 11.
(Score: 2) by NewNic on Friday May 17 2019, @05:17PM (1 child)
What part of "it does have an off switch." wasn't clear?
lib·er·tar·i·an·ism ˌlibərˈterēənizəm/ noun: Magical thinking that useful idiots mistake for serious political theory
(Score: 2) by hemocyanin on Saturday May 18 2019, @03:48PM
Sorry, bad eyes, misread