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Electric vehicle (EV) drivers often worry about the summer heat draining their battery range, especially when using heavy air conditioning. However, Geotab, a leader in connected vehicle solutions, reveals that driving speed has a far greater impact on EV range than high temperatures, especially for larger vehicles on extended trips. Using data from over 3 million trips, Geotab’s analysis highlights how speed, not heat, is the primary culprit behind range reduction.
Key Highlights
- Speed significantly reduces EV range, with a 65 kWh van losing 39% of range when speed increases from 50 to 80 mph.
- Aerodynamic drag outweighs air conditioning’s energy use at higher speeds.
- Temperature impacts range mainly at lower speeds, where air conditioning draw is more noticeable.
- Practical steps like reducing speed and preconditioning the cabin can extend range by 10–30%.
Speed’s Dominant Role in Range Loss
Geotab’s study, based on anonymized telematics data from 350,000 sedan trips and 2.8 million van trips, shows that aerodynamic drag—which increases exponentially with speed—dramatically reduces EV range. For a 65 kWh electric van at 86°F, range drops from 143 miles at 50 mph to just 88 miles at 80 mph. Sedans fare slightly better due to their aerodynamic design, but still lose 28% of range when speed rises from 50 to 80 mph. Charlotte Argue, Geotab’s Senior Manager of Sustainability, notes, “Slowing down by just 10 or 15 mph can extend range by 20–30%.”
Temperature’s Limited Impact
While summer heat and air conditioning use do affect range, their impact is most pronounced at lower speeds, where drag is minimal. At higher speeds, the energy required to overcome air resistance overshadows air conditioning’s draw, making speed the dominant factor.
Maximizing EV Range
Geotab offers actionable tips to optimize range without sacrificing comfort:
- Reduce highway speed: Dropping from 70 to 60 mph can boost range by 10–20%.
- Precondition the cabin while plugged in to conserve battery power.
- Use air conditioning efficiently with recirculate mode or seat ventilation.
- Drive smoothly, leveraging regenerative braking and avoiding aggressive acceleration.
- Park in shade to minimize initial cooling needs.
- Avoid fast charging in extreme heat to protect battery health.
By prioritizing speed management, EV drivers can significantly extend their range, ensuring efficient and sustainable travel even in summer heat.
For more insights, visit Geotab’s website.
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