A look at how electric vehicles perform in extreme weather

CHICAGO — In our series, Driving Into the Future sponsored by Electric for All, we have a look at how electric vehicles (EVs) perform in extreme weather.

“Oftentimes, once you’ve driven an EV, you kind of don’t want to go back,” said Cars.com Editor-in-Chief Jenni Newman. “You know, it’s that great of a driving experience.”

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As an EV owner based in Chicago, Newman’s vehicle has been put to the test in harsh conditions.

“I also really appreciate, especially in the winter, how easy it is to quickly warm my car up, especially when it’s plugged in,” she said.

EV manufacturers say extreme weather can impact the performance of the battery, not unlike how the weather impacts the efficiency of traditional, gas-powered vehicles.

“How aggressive are you driving it?” asked Jerry O’Sullivan, the central regional marketing manager with Kia. “You know, that comes into play. Do you need the heat on? Is it windy? When we do the testing and we develop what we say the range is, the EV6, for example, has an ideal range of 271 miles. It’s probably closer to 225.”

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Even with a reduced range, O’Sullivan says an EV fits most people’s lifestyles.

“If you have a commute that’s 50 miles to work, that’s 100 miles round trip,” he said. “So, when you come home, you’re able to charge it on your own time, typically off peak, so the recharging of your battery is less expensive versus having a stop at a gas station.

Proponents of EVs say they’re simpler machines than their gas counterparts. And, as a result, typically require less general maintenance, meaning more money in the pockets of EV owners.

“Just having a simpler vehicle means that you’re there is less maintenance, so there’s less need to go and, you know, go into the dealership all the time,” Newman said. “Which is great for the owner, and certainly more convenient.”

While there’s no shortage of financial math to consider in the purchase of a new car, the impact of EVs is much broader than the happiness of an individual customer.

“Really where it comes down to is people start to continue to pay attention as they get older,” O’Sullivan said. “What are we leaving behind for the next generation with, you know, the carbon footprint.”