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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 JoeMerchant on Thursday May 16 2019, @08:15PM (2 children)
The most we ever paid for a vehicle was $19,000 for a brand new pickup truck in 1999. After that, it was $14,000 for a brand new Miata in 1991. The most expensive used car we ever bought was $12,000.
My main beef with auto battery power is the cost of the battery packs - which can range to $20K and higher. I can't imagine an auto battery pack lasting 200,000 miles or 20 years - which both of those purchased new vehicles have done.
🌻🌻 [google.com]
(Score: 2) by MostCynical on Thursday May 16 2019, @09:01PM (1 child)
As above [soylentnews.org] you don't have to imagine, they have already managed the distance..
"I guess once you start doubting, there's no end to it." -Batou, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
(Score: 2) by JoeMerchant on Friday May 17 2019, @02:11AM
Put another way, by the time I put 200,000 miles on an "around town" vehicle, it's more than 20 years old - proven twice now.
Where will those battery packs be after 20 years of hot/cold charge/discharge water ingress, and other real-life challenges?
I know Lithium-Iron is better (and more expensive), than Lead-Acid, but the very same concern has kept me away from the lead-acid battery vehicle market - at least for big four+ seaters. On the other hand, I pretty much love my fat-tired electric bike, even if its Lithium-Iron battery pack has noticeably degraded already in less than a year of use, it's only a few hundred dollars to replace.
🌻🌻 [google.com]