Hot weather is sweeping the U.S., and it’s likely to return in future years. Here’s how to maximize your electric car’s range during the heat.
The biggest drawback to owning an electric car is having to get used to and constantly dealing with a more limited range. Unless you’re driving a Lucid Air, your electric car likely drives a shorter distance on a full charge than the average gas-powered car on a full tank. And considering how slowly some EVs charge, that means that you’re likely thinking about range, often.
There are a few things that can lower the range even further, too. Very cold temperatures are one of those things — but it turns out, very hot temperatures can do the same. And, with the heat waves that have swept the world in 2023, that’s an issue that’s affecting more and more EV drivers out there.
So why does hot weather impact your EV’s range? Electric vehicles rely on batteries that function through a delicate balance of chemical reactions. When temperatures soar, those chemical reactions don’t take place quite as quickly, causing the battery to work harder and expend energy more quickly. An EV’s battery in hot weather may require more frequent charging stops, diminishing the vehicle’s range even further, not to mention the fact that you’re likely to crank the AC to help stay comfortable.
Unfortunately, maximizing EV range in hot weather isn’t as simple as flipping a “hot weather” switch in your car.
