Yes, frigid weather may reduce your EV battery range. Here's how to prepare

Recent news reportsoutof the U.S.have recounted the problems Tesla owners have facedduring the extreme cold weather across North America, includingloss of battery power, extended rechargingtimesandlong lines at charging stations.

Yes, freezing temperaturescan have a significant impact on an electric vehicle's battery, but experts say there are ways to mitigate the effects of extreme cold.

Why does thecold weather impact EV battery power?

The technical explanation for the loss of power has to do with the lithium ions that produce electricity in an EV battery. When it gets cold, theyflow more slowly through the liquid electrolyteand release less energy.

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Seattle-based Recurrent, a company that tests and analyzes electric vehicles, explains on its website that EV enginesare more efficient than internal combustion engines (ICE)because the former don't generate "waste heat."

However, thewaste heat in ICE carscan be used to warm the vehicle's interior incold temperatures.

EVs need to produce that energythemselves, meaning"the heaters that keep the car warm generally draw energy from the high-voltage battery, reducing how much capacity is left for driving," the Recurrent website said.

How muchdoescold weather affect an EV's battery power?

SomeEVs can lose up to 30 per cent of their range in freezing temperatures, according to Recurrent.

In its latest report, based on data from 18,000 vehicles, Recurrent found that 18 popular EV models maintained anaverage of 70.3 per cent of their range in freezing conditions. But that performance varieddependingon the model. For example, the report found that the range of the Audi E-tron fleetdropped about 20 per cent, compared with the Chevy Bolt (32 per cent) and Tesla Model S (55per cent).

Consumer Reports conducted itsown tests and found the cold weather can have a significant impact even before the temperaturedrops to freezing. Their tests found that the range starts to drop at 4 C. Cold weather, itfound, can drainabout 25 per cent of range when driving at higher speeds of just over 110 km/h.

"There's validity to the concern that you are going to lose some range in the really cold weather," said Cara Clairman,president and CEO of Plug'n Drive, a Canadian non-profit organization that seeks to answer consumer questions about electric vehicles.

She said range loss is less of a concern in more recent models compared to older models.

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But Clairmanpointed out that while vehicles may lose some range, most drivers on a typical day aren't driving anywhere near the top of their vehicle's range, which for most is between 400 and 500 kilometres on a full charge.

"Let's say you might lose 20 per cent. That's only an issue for you if that particular day you're driving 350 kilometres," she said. "So just keep in mind it's probably not an issue for most people."

How much longer do cars have to be charged in cold weather?

The vehicle controls the charging rate, not the charger, meaning whentemperatures are low, the EV's software reduces its charging power to help avoid stressing the battery, according to the website of Electrify America, a U.S.-based organization promoting zero-emission vehicle adoption.

EVs can take longer to charge when it's coldpartly because most are designed to boost their battery temperatures when the thermometer drops,Alex Knizek,manager of automotive testing and insights at Consumer Reports, told CBS MoneyWatch.

"This power to do so comes from the battery itself, reducing range," Knizeksaid. "This also has an impact on charging speeds. If the battery is too cold, it will charge slower and may need to heat itself up before the charging speed can increase."

This can result in a doubling of charging time, or even a tripling in some older EVs.

How can EV owners offset the impact of cold weather on their battery?

Albert Gore III,executive directorof the Washington, D.C.-based Zero Emission Transportation Association, said EV owners should consider "preconditioning" their vehicles before use.

"Agreat feature of nearly every EVon the market now is thatit's very easy touse your phone to turn on the heat five minutes before you get in the car," he said. "That doesn't just make the car more comfortable, it also helps to precondition the battery, and that will extend your range, depending onwhat type of vehicle you have."

Whilepreconditioning is available with most EVs using your phone's app or by setting up a departure time, some vehicles also offer a "winter weather" feature that is specially designed to keep battery temperatures in an ideal zone so they are always ready when you start to drive, according to Recurrent.

Gore's organization recommendsplugging the vehicle in and runningthe heating system for 20 to 30 minutes before taking it for a drive.

As well, he said drivers should plan to charge more frequently during colder weather, stayingbetween 20 per cent to 80 per cent ofcharging range.

"Also, try to ensure that if you're going to leave your car parked for a while, that you're leaving it with more than 20 per centrange on the battery," Gore said.

Recurrent suggeststhat once the vehicle ison the road, drivers should turn down the cabin heater and useseat warmers and a heated steering wheel to stay warm. These features use less energy and provide targeted heat, giving you more battery capacity to travel.

As well, if possible, owners shouldstore theirEV plugged in with a maximum charge setting of 70 or 80 per cent, Recurrent said. That way, the car can pull energy from the wall to keep warm, rather than using the battery. Otherwise, you may return to a lower battery capacity than expected.

Recurrent said EV owners could also consider equipping their vehiclewith aheat pump, which isnewer technology that can helppreserve range when it's cold. This feature isstandard in some EVmodels and optional in others.

On-board heat pumps drawwarmth from outside (even when it's cold) and run itthrough a condenser that raises the temperature, allowing for warm air to be pumped into the cabin, Recurrent says on its website.

Anna Stefanopoulou, a professor of mechanicalengineering at the University of Michigan, said heat pumpsuseelectricity in a much more efficientway.

"It's like an air-conditioningsystem, you would turn it on when you need it," she said.