AAA Testing Reveals EVs Lose 39% Range At 20°F While Hybrids Drop Only 23%

Winter brings a tough challenge for electric vehicle owners: their cars don’t go as far on a single charge. A study by AAA found that EVs lose an average of 39% of their range when temperatures drop to 20°F. That’s a big deal for drivers who rely on their car’s rated range to plan trips.

The AAA study also looked at hybrid vehicles. At 20°F, hybrids only lost 22.8% of their fuel economy. That’s a much smaller drop compared to EVs. The difference shows how cold weather hits electric batteries harder than gas-powered systems.

Some EV models suffered more than others. The Tesla Model Y RWD Long Range showed the biggest range difference at 20°F. Other models also took hits. The Tesla Model 3 RWD reportedly dropped from approximately 272 miles to about 190 miles. The Hyundai Ioniq 5 AWD fell from around 256 miles to around 180 miles. The Chevy Bolt EUV went from 247 miles down to roughly 172 miles, consistent with the study’s average findings.

Cold weather affects EVs for several reasons. Below freezing, the car’s heating system draws a lot of power. That power comes from the same battery used to drive. Regenerative braking also works less effectively in the cold. Short trips with lots of stops make the problem worse, with losses that can reach up to 40%. Models equipped with efficient heat pumps tend to retain more range in winter compared to those relying on resistive heaters.

Cost is another part of the story. At 20°F, EV owners using home charging paid about $87.75 per 1,000 miles. Hybrid drivers paid $123.95 for the same distance. So EVs were still cheaper to run at home, even in the cold. But that changed with public fast charging. When EV drivers used public DC fast chargers, their costs went higher than hybrid drivers at every temperature. Experts note that high electricity prices in certain regions can further reduce the cost advantages EVs hold over hybrids, even when charging at home.

Hot weather affects EVs too, but not as much. At 95°F, EVs lost about 8.5% of their range. Hybrids also struggled in the heat, recording an average efficiency decrease of 12% at 95°F. That’s far less than the 39% loss seen at 20°F. Cold weather remains the bigger challenge for electric vehicle performance.

✅ Claims in this article were verified using AI-assisted fact-checking.