Why do I get less range in colder weather?

Although it has been feeling pretty chilly for a while now, tomorrow marks the first official day of winter in the Northern Hemisphere. You may have started to notice that although your car is fully charged, the range is significantly reduced. The colder weather has a lot more to do with this than you may think…

Why do I get less range?

Most EV batteries are made from lithium-ion. In colder weather conditions, the chemical reactions in battery cells are slowed down.  This results in the battery draining more quickly and producing less power than it would in warmer weather. If it’s cold out, it’s a good idea to keep an eye on the battery percentage rather than the range as this can fluctuate quite dramatically. Some manufacturers warn that you may notice up to a 20% loss in range in the colder months. You’re also more likely to be heating up your cabin in the colder weather, which can considerably drain your battery.

Why does Ohme report a higher range than my car?

We’re not yet integrated with all car manufacturers, so we don’t have access to every car’s state of charge. If you have a car with which we’re not yet integrated, you may notice that Ohme reports a higher range than your car does. That’s because Ohme will be using the specs we have for your car in the database, which may differ slightly from the range your car actually has that day. You can see detailed tech specs such as ‘mild weather’ and ‘cold weather’ range in the ‘Manage my EV’ section of the Ohme app.

What can I do?

Pre-heating or pre-conditioning your car before you set off really helps to get the most out of your battery in the colder months. Try plugging in your Ohme charger and switching to ‘max charge’ when you want to pre-heat your car. This will ensure your car isn’t wasting energy on heating the battery (or your cabin) to its optimum temperature.