CAA conducts road test of EV range, charge in winter conditions

Driving an EV in a Canadian winter just got the ultimate stress test in a real-world winter EV performance study conducted this week by the Canadian Automobile Association (CAA).  

Vehicles representing more than two-thirds of Canadian EV sales were driven from Ottawa to Mont Tremblant in sub-zero temperatures. The CAA EV Winter Test measured how many kilometres EVs drove before their batteries died, and how long it took to get a reasonable recharge. 

“CAA is responding to a top concern of Canadians when it comes to EVs,” said Julie Beun, managing director of communications and public relations with CAA North & East Ontario. “We measured the effective range of electric vehicles in cold weather and how quickly they charge. These insights are critical for both current EV owners and those considering making the switch.” 

More than two thirds of Canadians in a recent poll told CAA that the drop in range during winter is a top barrier to buying an EV. And among Canadian EV owners, more than 65 percent say they have experienced lower battery range in extreme cold weather. 

Officially posted Canadian EV ranges are based on overall, year-round numbers. CAA’s test shows the difference winter makes. Across the board, the vehicles drove 14 to 39 percent less than their official range. See below for full results in the charts. 

Two vehicles well in the cold, the Chevrolet Silverado EV and the Polestar 2. Both drove just 14 percent less than their posted range.  

CAA found the cold weather affected EVs very differently, with some doing better than expected while others did not.   

“The vast difference in results highlights the importance of truth in advertising when it comes to EV range, and of comparing numbers if winter performance matters to you,” said Beun. “CAA would like to see a made-in-Canada standardized labelling system for EVs that includes winter driving performance rather than just a single average.” 

The CAA EV Winter Test featured 13 EVs, which includes 7 out of 10 of the top sellers in Canada.  Models came from sport, luxury, SUV, sedan and truck categories, capturing a diverse range of vehicle types. Temperatures during the drive varied between -7 and -15 degrees Celsius, representing a typical Canadian winter. 

Each vehicle was driven until the battery ran completely out of power to determine range in winter conditions. The results were compared to the estimated driving range published by Natural Resources Canada (NRCan). In Canada, only a single average is published, so consumers don’t have an accurate picture of winter range.  

CAA also put to the test charging speeds, a critical factor for longer trips in an EV. In CAA’s recent survey of EV owners, 4 in 10 EV drivers said significantly slower charging in extreme cold weather is a problem. And more than half (53 percent) of EV drivers still prefer to take their gas vehicle on long trips in extremely cold weather. 

Each vehicle in CAA’s test was connected to a DC fast-charger. The test measured how many kilometers of range were added in a 15-minute session.  

On average, EVs managed to add around 100 kilometres of range, which amounted to 28 percent of battery charge. The Tesla Model 3 charged the fastest, adding over 200 kilometres in just 15 minutes. CAA found significant variations in how much charge an EV could gain in 15 minutes, highlighting the importance of considering charging rates for those who frequently drive long distances. 

The CAA EV Winter Test is the latest initiative in CAA’s consumer education on electric vehicles, which includes providing unbiased information about the price and performance of electric vehicles in CAA’s EV Buyer’s Guide. 

Range test 

*Calculation was adjusted to reflect that Chevrolet Silverado EV started at 73% state of charge and that Ford F-150 Lightning started at 89% state of charge.  

Charge test 

*Calculation was adjusted to reflect that Chevrolet Silverado EV started at 73% state of charge and that Ford F-150 Lightning started at 89% state of charge.  

Charge test 

Note: Honda Prologue was not included in the charge test as it encountered an error and data was unavailable.