The performance of electric vehicles (EVs) in cold weather has been a concern for consumers and manufacturers alike. Following an initial winter test in China that demonstrated the effects of milder cold temperatures, a new comprehensive study has examined how various EV models fare in much harsher winter conditions, specifically between -10°C to -15°C. The findings indicate a notable decline in the actual driving range of these vehicles, which could impact consumer confidence in EV reliability during winter months.
In this follow-up test, all vehicles were evaluated with the climate control systems set to 24°C in auto mode to simulate real-world driving conditions. Testing took place on rural roads at an average speed of approximately 50 km/h, with each vehicle driven until depletion.
Over 40 different models were tested this time, featuring a diverse array of vehicles, including well-known brands such as Tesla and Mercedes. The results were stark, with a significant drop in average range retention, which was around 50%. Only a handful of models managed to retain close to 60% of their advertised ranges.
The BYD Han EV 4WD excelled in the test, retaining 60% of its claimed range, while the Nio ET7 100kWh followed closely with a 55% retention rate. Tesla's Model Y, however, performed dramatically poorer, retaining only 48% of its range under these conditions.
| Model | Advertised range | Actual range | % of advertised range | Average kWh/100km consumption |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BYD Han AWD | 610km | 366km | 60% | 23.3 |
| BAIC ArcFox Alpha S | 500km | 293km | 58% | 25.4 |
| Nio ET7 100kWh | 675km | 376km | 55% | 25.4 |
| IM L7 | 615km | 328km | 53% | 28.3 |
| XPeng P5 | 600km | 323km | 53% | 22.1 |
| BYD Yuan Plus | 510km | 272km | 53% | 22.2 |
| BYD Seal 4WD | 650km | 341km | 52% | 23.3 |
| Nio ES7 100kWh | 575km | 302km | 52% | 33.2 |
| Smart #1 Brabus | 500km | 260km | 52% | 25.4 |
| Leap C11 | 550km | 284km | 51% | 31.7 |
| BYD Dolphin | 401km | 208km | 51% | 21.6 |
| Zeekr 001 YOU | 650km | 327km | 50% | 30.6 |
| Leap C01 | 630km | 316km | 50% | 28.5 |
| GAC Aion S | 602km | 302km | 50% | 23.1 |
| XPeng G9 Performance | 650km | 323km | 49% | 30.3 |
| Nio ET5 100kWh | 640km | 312km | 49% | 32.1 |
| Tesla Model Y LR AWD | 660km | 319km | 48% | 24.6 |
| XPeng P7 | 562km | 270km | 48% | 30.0 |
| Hozon Neta S | 650km | 310km | 47% | 29.4 |
| GWM ORA Lighting Cat | 600km | 285km | 47% | 29.3 |
While many vehicles faced severe range challenges, the study also revealed issues regarding charging during colder months. EV batteries require optimal conditions to charge effectively, leading to increased energy consumption by the battery management systems to maintain heat. This can significantly extend charging times and reduce overall efficiency.
For example, the BYD Seal distinguished itself with a full charge time of just 69 minutes, in stark contrast with the Tesla Model 3, which took over 100 minutes to charge without nearing its advertised charging capacity of 250 kW. The Toyota bZ4X also fell short, presenting significant challenges in freezing environments.
| Model | Battery capacity in kWh | Time to full charge in min | Average charging rate in kW | Maximum charging rate in kW |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BYD Seal 4WD | 82.5 | 69 | 80.49 | 117.91 |
| Changan Deepal SL03 | 58.1 | 69 | 49.60 | 84.52 |
| BYD Yuan Plus | 60.48 | 76 | 50.59 | 73.78 |
| BYD Dolphin | 44.9 | 77 | 39.45 | 66.63 |
| BYD Han AWD | 85.4 | 80 | 68.87 | 94.64 |
| Nissan Ariya | 90.00 | 81 | 65.58 | 77.23 |
| Leap C11 | 89.97 | 82 | 63.92 | 105.50 |
| Mercedes-Benz EQE | 96.10 | 83 | 68.10 | 91.61 |
| Nio ET7 100kWh | 100.00 | 87 | 64.64 | 92.29 |
| Nio ET5 100kWh | 100.00 | 88 | 65.50 | 87.42 |
| GAC Aion S | 69.90 | 90 | 44.59 | 67.91 |
| Leap C01 | 90.00 | 93 | 63.06 | 105.89 |
| Tesla Model Y LR AWD | 78.40 | 93 | 55.55 | 97.29 |
| Geometry E | 39.40 | 94 | 22.31 | 34.74 |
| GWM ORA Lighting Cat | 83.49 | 95 | 51.25 | 88.66 |
| Zeekr 001 YOU | 100.00 | 96 | 61.04 | 108.87 |
| Nio ES7 | 100.00 | 96 | 59.14 | 68.08 |
| Tesla Model 3 Performance | 78.40 | 101 | 29.97 | 97.29 |
| XPeng G9 | 98 | 103 | 62.11 | 86.20 |
| XPeng P5 | 71.40 | 112 | 39.97 | 64.58 |
| Hozon Neta S | 91.00 | 117 | 48.07 | 56.45 |
| XPeng P7 | 80.90 | 120 | 36.17 | 46.71 |
| BAIC ArcFox Alpha S | 74.59 | 183 | 27.28 | 60.63 |
| Smart #1 Brabus | 66.0 | 193 | 20.83 | 35.83 |
| IM L7 | 93.0 | 208 | 27.81 | 87.26 |
| Feifan R7 | 90.0 | 214 | 26.89 | 105.90 |
| Toyota bZ4X | 66.70 | 423 | 10.53 | 42.92 |
| Chery QQ Ice Cream | 13.90 | 339 | 2.06 | 2.20 |
| Wuling Mini EV | 9.30 | 452 | 1.38 | 1.50 |
| Changan Lumin | 17.65 | 549 | 1.97 | 2.10 |
Source (in Chinese)
