I wouldn't trust anything from AAA. 39% loss in cold is straight up false unless you're talking like -20F. These tests have been done many many times by more respectable orgs and they usually get around 20%
this post was submitted on 01 May 2026
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If you run the heat/climate control along with the range loss from the cold, it ads up pretty fast, to probably about that number. I found that out when I went to pick mine up 2.5 hrs away. It was cold spring weather and raining, so fogged windows and numb fingers if heat not running. The impacts screen showed a whopping 30% of my battery use on that drive was climate control alone. I have since learned how to use the vents without climate control, but it wouldn’t have helped much on that drive.
It can make the drive no problem in nicer weather without the heat on, even using the AC is pretty cheap, battery-wise (about 3% on the same drive, though I do keep it set just a few degrees cooler than outside temps in the current weather), but running the heat/climate control just soaked my range. Had to stop at a fast charger, got back to like 85%, and still barely made it the second half of the trip.
Anecdotal, ofc.
39% loss in cold is straight up false unless you’re talking like -20F.
My guess is that this number may be possibly accurate for cars without a thermal management system for the battery. In the USA, this would be exactly one car model and even of those there are years where it would be fine: the Nissan Leaf.
The Leaf came out in 2010 and has been air cooled until just this year in 2026. Some models had a battery heater though, but not all. I could see for a model without a heater and extreme cold the 39% range suppression. However, since its only one car, putting that 39% number is disingenuous because it suggest its more widespread when it isn't.
The real issue is the comparative lack of charging stations and the duration of the refill. There are solutions being worked on now.
Those of us who like to road-trip and camp have real anxiety about range and charge availability.
Nemesis!
... Due to my handle? 😄
"Internal combustion engine vehicles also lose range in extreme cold weather," points out Ed Kim, the chief analyst with the research group AutoPacific, who was not involved in AAA's research. The Environmental Protection Agency has estimated a 10% to 30% drop in gas vehicle fuel economy in cold weather, depending on the type of trip. "This isn't a problem that's exclusive to EVs. This happens to basically any kind of vehicle when it gets really cold."
I mean, diesels need to be plugged in with a heater running all night during winter in large portions of America and I think all of Canada.
When we start talking about this stuff, location really matters.
"Cold weather" is vague as fuck
And in REALLY cold weather they literally idle them continuously, because if they get that cold they will not start at all.
And if you get stuck out in the woods, you have to literally light a fire under your engine to warm it up enough.
But I think they're just talking about regular cold weather, like Minnesota. Trying to use an EV in the really cold places is just a bad idea.
Counter-point, Norway is almost exclusively EV at this point. EVs are fine in cold weather if you have a sensibly built society. At least they aren't worse than gas or Diesel.