Cold Weather Will Drain Your Electric Car Battery, If You Let It

On a frigid night in December 2022, Hans Guo was on his way home when his Tesla came to a complete stop. The dashboard showed another 18 miles (30 kilometers) of range, but there’s no arguing with a car that won’t turn on; stranded, Guo called for a tow.

Just as speed, terrain and tire pressure affect the range of electric cars, outdoor temperature does, too. Both heat waves and cold spells can wreak havoc on EVs’ lithium-ion batteries, speeding up (or slowing down) the chemical reactions that affect their charging capacity. But while extreme heat can break a battery ...