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How much does cold weather affect the range of electric cars? - YAHOO NEWS
Winter temperatures are known to reduce battery efficiency in EVs, potentially fuelling 'range anxiety' among buyers. But how much of a problem is it really?
BY James Hockaday
The number of motorists opting to buy an electric vehicle in the UK continues to rise.
More than 470,000 electric cars were registered in 2025, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) - up 23.9% on 2024.
Indeed, pure battery EVs achieved a market share of 23.4%, which is expected to place the UK as the second largest market in Europe, behind Germany
It comes as the UK government attempts to encourage more people to make the switch to EVs, offering a discount of up to £3,750 for certain models.
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However, there are still some drawbacks of electric vehicles, including how they handle cold weather, with research by insurance provider AXA showing battery health is a major concern putting off would-be buyers.
As the UK endures a bitter cold snap, this will be at the forefront of many electric vehicle owners – but how bad is the cold weather for EV batteries really?
Is cold weather bad for electric cars?
Cold weather can affect your car's electric battery in a number of ways, as explained by BP Pulse, which supplies charging infrastructure for electric vehicles.
Lithium-ion batteries rely on chemical reactions to generate power, and "cold weather slows down these reactions", making batteries less efficient, the vehicle charging network says.
The cold weather drains batteries in electric vehicles in other ways that don't apply to traditional fuel-powered cars, it adds.
"Unlike a petrol or diesel car that uses waste engine heat to warm the cabin, EVs have to draw power directly from the battery for heating and demisting the windscreen. This can be one of the biggest factors in reducing your range."Furthermore, to "perform optimally and charge at speed" your EV's battery pack often needs to be warmed up, BP Pulse says.
"Your car’s thermal management system uses energy from the battery to do this, which could reduce range, especially before charging or at the start of a journey," it adds.
How much range does an EV lose in the cold?
Modern EVs in the UK typically lose between 10-30% of their range when the temperature falls below 5C, according to electric vehicle platform ONEEV.
It says the most reliable data on this comes from cold-weather testing by independent organisations such as the RAC and Auto Express, and says the results align with findings of Scandinavian tests taken in harsher winters.
EV charging and sustainable energy business Gridserve suggests losses of 10-20%, meaning that "for a car with 200 miles range on a nice day, on a frozen winter morning you’re more likely to get 160 miles".
However, ONEEV points out that petrol and diesel cars are also less efficient in the winter, often using up to 15% more fuel, although drivers rarely notice due to the size of their tanks.
In contrast, EV drivers might notice the difference more clearly on their dashboard display.
Do electric cars charge in freezing weather?
Yes, your EV can still be charged in freezing weather, but at a slower rate.
"A cold battery can’t accept a charge as quickly as a warm one," says BP Pulse.
"When you plug into a rapid or ultrafast charger on a freezing day, some of the initial energy may go into warming the battery before your car can charge at its fastest rate."
As EVs draw more energy in cold weather when the battery is very low, ONEEV advises drivers to charge their batteries before they drop below 20% to maximise efficiency.
Online car marketplace Carwow advises drivers to "use slow charging whenever practical" to protect their car's battery during the winter, as this is "better for battery life".
"You should also keep the battery between 20% and 80% charged, only charging to 100% if you must for a long journey," it adds.
Is it getting better?
Yes, according to EV research site Recurrent, which wrote in November 2024 that heat pumps, a newer and more efficient type of heater, can improve driving range during the winter by 8-10%.
Resistive heating units that many EVs have been relying on generate 1 unit of heat for every unit of electricity used, the site adds, while heat pumps can generate 3-4 units.
The Electric Car Scheme, which allows workers to save money on EVs through salary sacrifice, claims heat pumps can improve winter range by 10-30% compared to traditional resistive heating systems.
It says the efficiency benefits of heat pumps are "most noticeable in temperatures between -5C and 15C, making them particularly valuable in the UK climate".
The scheme adds that premium electric vehicles from Tesla, BMW, and Audi now include advanced heat pump technology as either standard or optional equipment.
Should it put people off buying an EV?
Despite improvements in technology, many drivers in the UK still appear to be mindful of an EV's range when making the switch.
Research by the AA suggests "range anxiety" affects 73% of potential EV buyers, according to car broker Motorfinity.
A report by Electric Vehicle Association England (EVA England) adds that range anxiety, and a perceived lack of charging infrastructure and usability of that infrastructure are among the main reasons people don't go for electric.
However, limitations on EVs due to cold weather does not appear to have put off buyers in Norway, which is known for its sub-zero winter temperatures and is said to be leading the way in adoption of electric cars.
In 2024, electric vehicles in Norway accounted for 88.9% of new cars sold – up from 82% in 2023, Gridserve reported, citing the Norwegian Road Federation.
This should provide some reassurance to UK buyers, Carwow suggests, adding that "an electric car will work in any cold temperature we’re likely to experience in the UK".
