Ambient temperature impacts on real-world electric vehicle efficiency & range
Abstract
Electric vehicles offer a means of substantially reducing emissions in the short run, and reaching near-zero levels with complementary power sector policies over the longer-term. However, to date, consumer adoption has been limited by range anxiety and lack of familiarity with the technology. Understanding the effects of ambient temperature on electric vehicle efficiency is relevant for improving vehicle performance, enabling widespread consumer adoption and ensuring beneficial environmental outcomes. Using real-world fleet data from the Tesla Model S, vehicle efficiency is observed across a range of trip characteristics, regional climates, and ambient temperatures. The data suggest that low-temperature penalties to vehicle efficiency are mostly confined to short-distance drives, limiting the impacts on useful range experienced by the driver. Drivers are also able to adapt behaviors in response to anticipated range needs. Lastly, average efficiency impacts of climate are moderate (10% or less), as very low temperature conditions strongly affect only a small subset of trips.
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Taggart analyzed over 10,000 Tesla Model S vehicles and observed energy consumption increases of up to 45% at -10°C, with short trips showing higher consumption due to transient heating of battery and cabin.
“Taggart [18] analyzed over 10,000 Tesla Model S and observed energy consumption increases of up to 45% at -10 • C, whereas short trips in particular showed higher consumptions due to the transient heating up of the battery and cabin.”
From Effect of Low Temperature on Electric Vehicle Range (2021) · cites this paper as [18]
The results of Taggart [18] (45%) and Delos Reyes et al. [19] (70%) exceed our findings.
“On the other hand, the results of Taggart [18] (45%) and specifically the results of Delos Reyes et al. [19] (70%), which are both based on experimental data as well, exceed our findings.”
From Effect of Low Temperature on Electric Vehicle Range (2021) · cites this paper as [18]
Both Taggart and Delos Reyes assessed the total range reduction of BEVs under cold ambient conditions and did not distinguish between the different effects leading to the range reduction.
“However, both authors assessed the total range reduction of BEV's under cold ambient conditions and they did not distinguish between the different effects leading to the range reduction.”
From Effect of Low Temperature on Electric Vehicle Range (2021) · cites this paper as [18]
Cites
Rapidly falling costs of battery packs for electric vehicles
Nykvist, B., & Nilsson, M. (2015) · Nature Climate Change · doi:10.1038/nclimate2564 · Cited by 1,819 · see citing works
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Al-Wreikat, Y., Serrano, C., & Sodré, J. R. (2022) · Energy · doi:10.1016/j.energy.2021.122028 · Cited by 220 · see citing works
Effect of Low Temperature on Electric Vehicle Range
Steinstraeter, M., Heinrich, T., & Lienkamp, M. (2021) · World Electric Vehicle Journal · doi:10.3390/wevj12030115 · Cited by 122 · see citing works
Trends in life cycle greenhouse gas emissions of future light duty electric vehicles
Ambrose, H., Kendall, A., Lozano, M., Wachche, S., & Fulton, L. (2020) · Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment · doi:10.1016/j.trd.2020.102287 · Cited by 104 · see citing works
Effects of High Ambient Temperature on Electric Vehicle Efficiency and Range: Case Study of Kuwait
Hamwi, H., Rushby, T., Mahdy, M., & Bahaj, A. S. (2022) · Energies · doi:10.3390/en15093178 · Cited by 39 · see citing works
- Authors
- Taggart, J.
- Affiliations
- Stanford University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Taggart, John
- ORCID
- Taggart, John
- Venue
- 2017 IEEE Transportation Electrification Conference and Expo (ITEC)
- Publisher
- IEEE
- Published
- 2017-06
- Pages
- 186-190
- OpenAlex
- W2740765130
- Cited by
- 37
- References
- 1
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 10 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 1
- FWCI
- 1.93
- Type
- conference paper
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- IEEE Transportation Electrification Conference and Expo (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Electrical and Electronic Engineering › Electric Vehicles and Infrastructure
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Automotive Engineering › Electric and Hybrid Vehicle Technologies
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Automotive Engineering › Vehicle emissions and performance
- Keywords
- electric vehicles, ambient temperature, vehicle efficiency, driving range, range anxiety, Tesla Model S, real-world driving data, short-distance trips, driver behavior, consumer adoption
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