Does cold weather affect battery performance?

Reduced battery performance & charging time due to cold weather. Additional heating, wipers, and lights all require more energy to operate. Wet, icy, or snowy conditions can increase energy usage by up to 10%. Why does my car charge more slowly in the cold?

How cold should a battery be in winter?

In the UK, winter temperatures average between 0 - 7 degrees Celsius - that’s between 8 to 15 degrees colder than a lithium battery can optimally perform. Due to the internal kinetics of the battery cell, colder temperatures slow the chemical reaction. What does this mean in real life? 10 - 15% less driving range.

How does cold weather affect EV batteries?

Cold temperatures adversely affect EV batteries because they rely on chemical reactions to store and release electricity. Lithium-ion batteries – the most common cells used in electric and hybrid cars – work when lithium ions move from the anode to the cathode; cold slows this process down and restricts battery performance.

What happens to the battery range of an electric car if it's cold?

We’ll be revealing the winners of The Car Expert Awards 2025, including our overall Car of the Year title, on Tuesday 3 December. The battery range of an electric car goes down when the weather is cold. Here’s why and what you can do about it.

Why do electric cars need a cold battery?

It reduces battery life - Cold batteries have a smaller capacity than warm batteries, which means that electric cars cannot hold as much charge in the winter months as they do in the summer. This is due to the cold temperatures slowing down the chemical reaction which generates power, thereby weakening the battery’s power and reducing its lifespan.

What happens to EV battery performance in winter?

Most electric vehicle owners will experience lower EV car battery performance in winter, with reduced range and longer charging times being the most noticeable effects. At the time of writing, the UK is in the depths of winter.