Winter temperatures pose a challenge for electric vehicles, as the latest test by the Norwegian automobile club NAF (Norges Automobil-Forbund) shows. At temperatures between -5 and -10 degrees Celsius, 23 electric cars were tested for their range and charging time. The results revealed some significant deviations from the manufacturer’s information, particularly in comparison to the Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicles Test Procedure (WLTP).
Twice a year, the Norwegian automobile club NAF carries out a comprehensive range and charging test for electric cars. While in summer the ranges were sometimes higher than the manufacturer’s specifications, in extreme cases these were reduced by up to 30 percent in winter. “We looked at whether and to what extent the actual range differs from the manufacturer’s information. We drove until the battery was completely empty,” said test and technology expert Florian Merker, who was on site for the ÖAMTC.
E-cars in winter: How to still drive well when the range is decreasing
Variable results on test
The electric cars tested come from different manufacturers and represent a wide range of models, from luxurious sedans to compact city cars. Florian Merker explains: “Many of the electric vehicles tested are not yet available on the Austrian automobile market. As with the last two El Prix range tests, some tested models, 5 vehicles to be precise, were from Chinese manufacturers.”
The test route stretched from Oslo through Gjøvik and Rondane National Park to Ringebu and back, simulating a variety of road and weather conditions, including mountain passes and low temperatures. The route’s elevation profiles ranged from sea level to over 1000 meters above sea level, allowing vehicle loading and range testing under realistic conditions.
© ÖAMTC
The winter range test shows that the deviation from the WLTP range is 5.9% in the best case and 31.9% in the worst case. The results make it clear that vehicle behavior is highly variable in winter. An example of this is the XPeng G9, which reached almost 590 kilometers in summer, but only 452 kilometers in winter. The range of the Toyota bz4X AWD was only three percent below the WLTP value in summer, while it fell by almost 32 percent in winter. The Chinese luxury car HiPhi Z, on the other hand, achieved a range of 522 kilometers in the Norwegian winter, which was just under the WLTP range of 555 kilometers. This surprising winner shows the potential of modern electric vehicles.
Various factors have an influence
When analyzing the range variations, it was found that various factors such as battery capacity, battery management system and vehicle equipment contributed to the differences. Additional reasons for range deviations could include aerodynamic effects, heat loss at low temperatures and individual driving styles that influence energy consumption.
In addition to the range, the charging times of the vehicles were also tested, and it was found that half of the electric cars tested required less than 30 minutes to charge from ten to 80 percent, indicating the improved charging infrastructure and the performance of modern batteries.
Winter performance can be significantly improved
Despite the current challenges, there are promising developments that could improve the winter performance of electric cars. Companies like CATL and Greater Bay Technology are working on innovative solutions to optimize the range and charging time of batteries in cold temperatures. Future technologies such as sodium-ion batteries and solid-state batteries could further improve the winter performance of electric vehicles.
The increasing availability of charging stations could also help to further improve the winter performance of electric cars and make them an attractive option for environmentally conscious consumers.
The winter range test in Norway highlights the current challenges that electric cars face, especially in cold conditions. However, the results also show the potential for future improvements in e-mobility that aim to optimize the range and charging time of electric vehicles even in winter.
Microlino Lite: New mini electric car should be approved for teenagers
Five-largest increase in registrations in Europe: The share of electric cars in Austria is increasing