Electric vehicles (EVs) have long been touted as a more environmentally friendly alternative to traditional gas-powered cars, but how do they actually perform in extreme weather conditions?
According to Cars.com Editor-in-Chief Jenni Newman, who owns an EV based in Chicago, the experience of driving one is 'great' and can be particularly appealing during harsh winters when it's easy to quickly warm up her car. "I also really appreciate, especially in the winter, how easy it is to quickly warm my car up, especially when it's plugged in," she said.
However, EV manufacturers acknowledge that extreme weather conditions can impact the performance of the battery, similar to how traditional vehicles are affected by external factors. Jerry O'Sullivan, central regional marketing manager with Kia, noted that 'how aggressive' you drive your EV can affect its range, citing the Kia EV6's ideal range of 271 miles as "probably closer to 225" in real-world conditions.
Despite reduced ranges, proponents of EVs argue that they fit most people's lifestyles and offer significant advantages over traditional vehicles. O'Sullivan explained that even a 50-mile commute can result in savings when charging on your own time off-peak, making recharging less expensive than stopping at a gas station.
One of the key benefits of EVs is their simplicity as machines, which translates to lower maintenance costs and reduced need for dealership visits. "Just having a simpler vehicle means that you're there is less maintenance, so there's less need to go and, you know, go into the dealership all the time," Newman said.
Ultimately, the impact of EVs extends beyond individual customer happiness to broader societal concerns. O'Sullivan emphasized the importance of considering the carbon footprint left behind for future generations, suggesting that people will become more mindful as they age.
According to Cars.com Editor-in-Chief Jenni Newman, who owns an EV based in Chicago, the experience of driving one is 'great' and can be particularly appealing during harsh winters when it's easy to quickly warm up her car. "I also really appreciate, especially in the winter, how easy it is to quickly warm my car up, especially when it's plugged in," she said.
However, EV manufacturers acknowledge that extreme weather conditions can impact the performance of the battery, similar to how traditional vehicles are affected by external factors. Jerry O'Sullivan, central regional marketing manager with Kia, noted that 'how aggressive' you drive your EV can affect its range, citing the Kia EV6's ideal range of 271 miles as "probably closer to 225" in real-world conditions.
Despite reduced ranges, proponents of EVs argue that they fit most people's lifestyles and offer significant advantages over traditional vehicles. O'Sullivan explained that even a 50-mile commute can result in savings when charging on your own time off-peak, making recharging less expensive than stopping at a gas station.
One of the key benefits of EVs is their simplicity as machines, which translates to lower maintenance costs and reduced need for dealership visits. "Just having a simpler vehicle means that you're there is less maintenance, so there's less need to go and, you know, go into the dealership all the time," Newman said.
Ultimately, the impact of EVs extends beyond individual customer happiness to broader societal concerns. O'Sullivan emphasized the importance of considering the carbon footprint left behind for future generations, suggesting that people will become more mindful as they age.
I'm still not convinced about these so-called 'green' cars, ya know? 
They might be efficient and all, but what's really going on with those batteries in extreme temps? It sounds like it's a major production cost control thing to me... if they're gonna give you less range, just tell us upfront, right? 
. Don't get me wrong, I love the idea of recharging on my own time... but is that just a fancy marketing ploy to make us all think we're saving the planet? 
Are they using some kinda proprietary battery or something? It's like they don't wanna share the truth with us... 
. As someone who lives in the Midwest, we get some crazy cold winters, but driving my EV is a breeze - it's like having my own personal heater on wheels! The thought of being able to charge up during the day and then hit the road without worrying about running out of battery is really appealing.
. And let's be real, who doesn't want to save some cash on gas? I mean, even a 50-mile commute can make a big difference in your wallet.
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, but 50 miles of reduced range feels like a bummer for anyone relying on them for daily commutes 
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. But what really gets me is the long-term carbon footprint thing – I hope people start thinking about their impact as they get older 
...
. I own an old Honda Civic and I have to say, it's been nice to see my wife switch to an EV for our daily commute - the savings on charging is huge 