3 out of 5 electric cars cannot handle temperatures down to minus 42 degrees Celsius. The Chinese MG 4, for example, had to be towed away.
3 out of 5 electric cars fail when temperatures drop to extremely cold levels.
The question of how well electric cars can function in icy environments is becoming increasingly relevant as winter weather in the Nordic region can bring temperatures well below freezing.
In February 2023, five electric cars were subjected to a test at temperatures as low as minus 42 degrees. The results show that several electric cars had major problems under the extreme conditions.
According to DMI, we have to go back to 1982 to find the lowest temperature ever measured in Denmark. In Thy, January that year, it was down to -31.2 degrees.
Every year, the Norwegian motorists' organization NAF and Motor.no carry out the world's largest winter test of the range of electric cars.
During these tests, the cars are briefly exposed to winter conditions with temperatures typically between minus 5 and minus 10 degrees Celsius. In 2023, some electric cars lost over 30 percent of their range, while the Tesla Model S set a record with a range of 530 kilometers during the test. But how do electric cars fare when temperatures drop even lower?
To find that answer, the Norwegian Electric Vehicle Association conducted a cold test under more extreme conditions. Five different electric cars were selected to be exposed to temperatures down to minus 42 degrees in a giant freezer.
The cars tested included the BMW iX, Kia Niro EV, MG4, Nissan Ariya and Renault Megane E-Tech. Before the test, the cars' battery packs were charged to 80 percent and then placed in the freezer for 12-14 hours, divided into intervals of minus 25, minus 30 and minus 35 degrees.
The results revealed that three out of the five electric cars could not handle the cold. The MG4 could not even connect with the key after the test. The Chinese electric car subsequently had to be towed out of the freezer.
The Nissan Ariya test team was able to get the car to life after the test, but after four minutes of warm-up, the car died.
The Kia Niro EV started but stopped after 11 minutes of warming up. Admittedly, in such low temperatures even cars with combustion engines will struggle.
But the test highlighted that the electric car's 12-volt battery is an obvious weakness in extreme cold. And it's actually a problem in several places, the study shows .
It is worth noting, however, that the electric cars' range was not tested under these extreme temperatures.
However, this may still be a concern for many electric car owners, as winter weather often significantly reduces the range of their cars. The test highlights the need for continued development of technology so that electric cars can cope with even the harshest winter conditions.
