AlphaAtlas
[H]ard|Gawd
- Joined
- Mar 3, 2018
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A recently released report claims that driving in the heat or the cold can dramatically reduces the range of an electric vehicle. AAA tested a Chevy Bolt, a Nissan Leaf, a BMW i3, a Tesla Model S 75D, and a Volkswagen e-Golf in hot and cold weather, with HVAC on and off. The i3 fared particularly poorly, as the report claims that energy "costs" increased over 80% while driving in 20F weather with the heat on, as opposed to driving in 75F weather. Tesla Model S energy costs increased 60% in the cold, and around 20% in 95F heat, and energy usage still went up around 10% if the drivers choose to tough it out without any HVAC. Tesla issued a statement to AP disputing the report, though they stopped shorting of mentioning just how much they think cold weather affects their cars.
In a statement, Tesla disputed the AAA results. The company said that based on data collected from its cars on the road, "the average Model S customer doesn't experience anywhere near that decrease in range." The company said the range dropped by roughly 1 percent at 95 degrees, but it would not release a percentage for cold weather. AAA said it followed test procedures drawn up by SAE, an auto engineering trade group. When the temperature tumbled to 20 degrees last week in Hickory, North Carolina, near Charlotte, Jason Hughes noticed the range fall when he drove his Tesla Model 3 on the commute from home to work. "It would easily use double the amount of power for that 15-mile trip," said Hughes, who owns four Teslas and runs a business that refurbishes and sells salvaged Tesla parts.
In a statement, Tesla disputed the AAA results. The company said that based on data collected from its cars on the road, "the average Model S customer doesn't experience anywhere near that decrease in range." The company said the range dropped by roughly 1 percent at 95 degrees, but it would not release a percentage for cold weather. AAA said it followed test procedures drawn up by SAE, an auto engineering trade group. When the temperature tumbled to 20 degrees last week in Hickory, North Carolina, near Charlotte, Jason Hughes noticed the range fall when he drove his Tesla Model 3 on the commute from home to work. "It would easily use double the amount of power for that 15-mile trip," said Hughes, who owns four Teslas and runs a business that refurbishes and sells salvaged Tesla parts.