Winter Happens: The Effect of Ambient Temperature on the Travel Range of Electric Vehicles

The model is validated on data recorded through the experimental campaign reported in [27], where the Nissan Leaf was driven to depletion across a broad range of ambient temperatures occurring in Winnipeg, MB, Canada, during winter.

“The model is validated on data recorded through the experimental campaign reported in the work of [27], where the Nissan Leaf was driven to depletion across a broad range of ambient temperatures occurring in Winnipeg, MB, Canada, during winter.”

Cabin heating systems based on electrical resistive heating, rather than a heat pump, worsen the effect, as in the Mitsubishi i-MiEV and Nissan Leaf.

“Things obviously get worse when the main cabin heating systems are based on electrical resistive heating, rather than a heat pump [24,25], as in the case of the popular Mitsubishi i-MiEV [26] and Nissan Leaf electric cars [27].”

The model's results are supported and validated using data from an experimental campaign in which a Nissan Leaf was driven to depletion across a broad range of winter ambient temperatures.

“The results are supported and validated using data available from an experimental campaign where the Nissan Leaf was driven to depletion across a broad range of winter ambient temperatures.”

Studies estimating energy consumption from real measurements rely on a large number of vehicle tests, which is time consuming.

“However, those results rely on a large number of vehicle tests, which is time consuming.”

In global experimental studies, the impacts of the different subsystems cannot be differentiated.

“Moreover, the impacts of the different subsystems cannot be differentiated in such global studies.”

Experimental studies of ambient conditions on energy consumption are limited to the considered region and time of the study.

“Although the experimental approach highlights the overall impact of ambient conditions, the results are limited to the considered region and time of the study.”

The need for thermal comfort can entail a large variation of overall energy consumption during the year, especially in regions with very cold winters.

“However, the need for thermal comfort could entail a large variation of the overall energy consumption during the year, especially in regions with very cold winters [10].”

Real driving studies show reductions of 50% to 70% of driving range under extreme cold conditions.

“Results show reductions of 50% to 70% of the driving range under extreme cold conditions.”

Several studies have demonstrated reductions in driving range down to 45%, 34.3%, and 31% on extreme cold (under zero degrees) scenarios.

“Several studies developed have demonstrated that reductions in driving range down to to 45% [48], 34.3% [49], and 31% [50] on extreme cold (under zero degrees) scenarios.”

Delos Reyes et al. [19] determined their maximum range reduction under extreme cold conditions of -26°C.

“Furthermore, Delos Reyes et al. [19] determined their maximum range reduction under extreme cold conditions of -26 • C.”

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.”

Delos Reyes et al. found a range decrease of up to 70% at -26°C in driving tests with a Nissan Leaf in Canada.

“Delos Reyes et al. [19] performed driving tests with a Nissan Leaf in Canada and found a range decrease of up to 70% at -26 • C.”

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.”