Extreme Cold Weather Causes Problems for Electric Vehicle Owners

Low Temperatures Reduce EV Range and Slow Down Charging, Particularly Impacting Tesla Owners

Extreme cold weather across the U.S. has led to issues for electric vehicle (EV) owners, particularly those with Teslas, as the low temperatures reduce the range of the vehicles and slow down battery charging.
In Chicago, some Tesla owners found their EVs' batteries had died in sub-zero temperatures, and reported that some Tesla charging stations weren't working or were taking longer than usual to charge their vehicles.
Electric vehicles are known to lose efficiency in cold weather, with research finding that below-freezing temperatures can reduce driving range by up to 70% on 18 popular EV models.
Tesla advises owners to keep the battery charge level above 20% during bitterly cold weather and notes that it's normal to see energy consumption increase in these conditions due to the increased energy used to heat the battery and cabin.
Experts suggest that EV owners can prevent battery issues in cold weather by warming up the vehicle's cabin while it's connected to a charger before driving, preconditioning the battery before using a fast charger, and driving more slowly to conserve energy.