BEVs available for purchase today are capable of meeting typical driving requirements, even under extreme weather conditions

Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) sales and interest have increased since their market introduction and they offer significant opportunities to reduce the US dependence on foreign energy sources as well as lower consumer operating costs and tailpipe criteria pollutant emissions. One of the particular question from BEV shoppers and current owners is the impact of extreme ambient temperature and weather events on vehicle range. A study performed by the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory and published by the DOE’s Vehicle Technologies Office in a program record addressed those concerns.

The study concludes that BEVs can serve the vast majority of light-duty vehicle driving needs, even under the most extreme temperature conditions, while maintaining comfortable cabin temperatures. In addition, currently available advanced vehicle technologies such as heat pumps, heated seats, and cabin pre-conditioning can limit the impacts of cold weather conditions on range loss and energy consumption.

Even with the additional energy needed for maintaining cabin temperature, it is evident that BEVs available for purchase today are capable of meeting typical driving requirements, even under extreme weather conditions, and can maintain cabin comfort for extended periods of time. We examined a scenario where vehicles are stuck in a highway under a blizzard situation. BEVs with a 60 kWh battery pack can maintain a 72°F cabin temperature for over a day even when the outside temperature is only 20F.

Figure 1: EV runtime (60 kWh usable), at idle, to maintain a 72°F cabin temperature at various ambient temperatures

BEVs have higher powertrain efficiency than conventional internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs) and therefore require less onboard stored energy. As a result, their energy consumption and range are more sensitive to significant ambient temperature changes than comparable conventional vehicles. This sensitivity to extreme cold is due in large part to the power required for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, as well as the reduced chemical performance in the battery cells. In this research, vehicle dynamometer testing was conducted at Argonne’s Advanced Mobility Technology Laboratory under various temperature conditions (0°F. 20°CF, 72°F, and 95°F) to analyze temperature impact on BEV performance. The test vehicles had their interior temperature thermostatically maintained by the vehicle HVAC systems at 72°F. BEV range decreased, compared to a reference range at 72°F ambient, by an average of 14% in hot conditions (95°F), 41% at 20°F and 54% in extreme cold conditions (0°F).

Figure 2: Average ambient temperature impact on midsize conventional ICEVs, HEVs, and BEVs, based on weighted city and highway driving cycles. Vehicle cabin temperature set to 72°F. Source: ANL AMTL

The variation in driving range among BEVs is primarily attributed to the additional energy consumption of their accessories (e.g. HVAC). Additionally, cold temperatures impact battery chemistry, reducing the total usable battery energy and increasing mechanical power losses in EVs.

Figure 3: Ambient temperature impacts on conventional and electric vehicle energy consumption (normalized: left, absolute: right) based on weighted city and highway driving cycles. Source: ANL AMTL

Conclusion – based on these results, even with the additional energy needed for maintaining cabin temperature, it is evident that BEVs available for purchase today are capable of meeting typical driving requirements, even under extreme weather conditions, and can maintain cabin comfort for extended periods of time.

Source: U.S. Department of Energy Vehicle Technologies Office Program Record, “Impact of Cold Ambient Temperature and Extreme Conditions on Electric Vehicles”, 9/23/2024, LINK