Why the range drops in the cold

Batteries work best within a certain temperature range. When the pack is cold, the chemistry inside is slower, and the car may limit charging and power to protect it. On top of that, heating the cabin and the battery takes energy from the same pack that drives the wheels.

Short trips are hit hardest, because the car spends a large part of the trip warming itself up.

Signs that it is normal winter loss

• The range is lower on cold days and better on milder ones.
• The car charges as usual, it just takes longer when the battery is cold.
• There are no warnings on the dashboard.

Signs that point to a battery problem

• The range stays low even when the weather is mild again.
• The range dropped suddenly, from one week to the next, without a change in temperature or driving.
• The charge level drops by a large amount in just a few kilometres.
• The car limits power or charging when it is not cold.
• A battery or high-voltage warning comes on.

What you can check yourself

• Note how much battery a regular trip uses, and compare it with the same trip on a day with a similar temperature.
• In most cars you can pre-heat while the car is still plugged in, so the energy for warming comes from the grid and not the battery.
• Write down when and how the range changed. It helps whoever diagnoses the car.

When to book a diagnosis

If the range does not come back in milder weather, or you see any of the signs above, a diagnosis tells you what is going on inside the pack, module by module. Tell us what the car does.