"Study: Summer & Hot Weather on Electric Car Range" - Recurrent article

[Tooney]

It's been established that electric vehicles lose some available range in very cold weather, but what about the heat of the summer? This study answers that question with real-world data from 7,500+ electric cars.

Do EVs work well in hot weather?
The short answer is yes, electric cars work perfectly well in hot conditions. Thousands of EV owners in hot climates are connected to the Recurrent platform and drive their cars each day without issues.
How much does hot summer weather affect EV range?
Electric cars only lose 2% to 5% of range in hot weather below 90F (32C). It's not enough for most drivers to notice. However, battery readings from 7,500 vehicles in hot conditions found that EVs can lose 20% to 30% of total range in very hot weather.

https://www.recurrentauto.com/research/what-a-c-does-to-your-range

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[Jonathan S.]

These results must be affected by city driving speeds.
At 70mph, Consumer Reports found longer ranges at 85F (or 29C for our friends who disgraceful eschew measurements in Freedom Units):
https://www.consumerreports.org/car...e-affects-electric-vehicle-range-a4873569949/
Granted, they didn't get above 85F. But even another 10F would most likely enhance the range on net via the lower air density at highway speeds, even with more AC use.
That has definitely been my own personal experience. We bought our i4 in May 2023, then as the temps got hotter, I kept expecting the range to decrease, but, huh, no, it just kept increasing, even as the AC was definitely being used more.

 

[W1NGE]

These results must be affected by city driving speeds.
At 70mph, Consumer Reports found longer ranges at 85F (or 29C for our friends who disgraceful eschew measurements in Freedom Units):
https://www.consumerreports.org/car...e-affects-electric-vehicle-range-a4873569949/
Granted, they didn't get above 85F. But even another 10F would most likely enhance the range on net via the lower air density at highway speeds, even with more AC use.
That has definitely been my own personal experience. We bought our i4 in May 2023, then as the temps got hotter, I kept expecting the range to decrease, but, huh, no, it just kept increasing, even as the AC was definitely being used more.

AC heating kills the battery and not cooling.

 

[Jonathan S.]

AC heating kills the battery and not cooling.

Yes, that serves to decrease range.
But at highway speeds, that is far more than offset by the lower air density.
Therefore the detailed 70mph testing by Consumer Reports found longer ranges at 85F.
And personally, in temperatures into the low 90sF, so far I've found range only increasing with hotter temps, not decreasing.

 

[W1NGE]

Yes, that serves to decrease range.
But at highway speeds, that is far more than offset by the lower air density.
Therefore the detailed 70mph testing by Consumer Reports found longer ranges at 85F.
And personally, in temperatures into the low 90sF, so far I've found range only increasing with hotter temps, not decreasing.

Range only increases in warmer ambients...

My point was that jf you heat the car using the AC then the HV interior heater comes into play.and will reduce range quite markedly.

This is the issue with EVs where the ambient is low and lower still in winter.

I can expect no more than 200 miles on a 100% charge in winter where I live and 240 in the summer. Switch the heating on and the range will drop (obviously).

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