Today's Article

"5EV batteries just 6tend to 7perform a little less." 

Andrew Garberson works at Recurrent, an electrical vehicle battery research company. He says there are two issues that 8contribute to these problems. 

One, the electric car batteries operate on chemical reactions, and when it's cold, those chemical reactions slow down, and that reduces the car's driving range. 

The second issue is when it's cold- we 9crank up the heat. In electric cars, though, the heaters run on stored energy- which means less energy for driving long distances. 

"A lot of the reason that an EV will lose range in the winter is because it has to work so hard to keep its driver warm." 

Tests by the consumer advocacy group Consumer Reports showed that EV driving range dropped by 25% on average in highway 10cruising in sub-freezing weather when compared to days with warmer temperatures. 

There is some good news, though. 

"There is no lasting impact on an EV batteries from cold weather." 

So what can you do if you're driving an electric vehicle in these 11frigid temperatures? 

12AAA has some tips. 

One, 13preheat your car while it's plugged in. That will save energy. 

Two, use seat warmers to help stay warm. They're more energy 14efficient and use far less power than your heater. 

And lastly, make sure you have winter tires to 15combat the snow.