Yes, the thumbnail is an exaggeration of the cold-weather EV experience…but not by much.
We’ve been freezing our collective nether regions off these past few days as Colorado, much like a large swath of the U.S., plunged into dangerously frigid temperatures as low as -15 degrees Fahrenheit (with wind chills down to -40 in some areas). Apart from simply trying to keep warm, one of the major discussions in our modern world is how our EV-focused automotive push translates to the winter season. Of course, there’s long been a concern of battery performance when the mercury drops below zero, and that came to a head in major urban areas like Chicago, where Teslas suffered frustrating conditions (link NPR News) as the arctic air annihilated cars’ battery levels, and even their ability to re-charge. We happen to have a near-new Tesla Model 3, so we wanted to see for ourselves just how bad the experience can get in severe winter weather.
Spoiler alert: The Tesla used far more energy than it would in normal conditions. As to just how far off the numbers are from normal though, Tommy ran our “Denver 100” MPG loop (which we’ve used to test fuel economy in other vehicles) and kept running the car until he nearly depleted the battery. As he ever so carefully rolled into a Tesla Supercharger in the town of Superior, Colorado, the Tesla Model 3 had just 2% battery charge remaining…after just 158 miles. Yikes.
For reference, Tesla did revise their range estimates downward amid scrutiny over their earlier and much more optimistic figures. At the beginning of our test, the car’s own range estimate suggested Tommy could achieve around 280 miles before the battery ran out. So, to see nearly half of that figure erased due to the extremely cold conditions does make you think about the year-round usability of EVs in cold climates.
We ran the test on the solid-performing Michelin CrossClimate 2 tires, which may impact range depending on the conditions. Roman also cold-soaked the car overnight, and it did have to work harder to condition the battery for optimal performance (we did not precondition the battery before the test). Certain variables in the testing can naturally alter the results, though you can check out the full video below to get a better sense of how an EV may (or may not) work for your area and driving needs.
