Electric car range can plummet by up to 40% in winter, test reveals

Winter conditions can significantly reduce the range of electric vehicles (EVs). Tests show a best-case scenario range drop of 16.5%, while some cars suffer reductions of up to 40%.

The top 10 worst performers include the Fiat 500, which lost 40.4% of its range, and the Ford Mustang Mach-E, which dropped 34.8%. Factors contributing to this decline include battery efficiency losses in cold temperatures and the lack of waste heat to warm cabins. "Our Real Range testing shows an average drop in the range of 18 percent of pure electric models in winter versus summer conditions," says editor Steve Huntingford.