Considering an All-EV Fleet for Your Business? Cold Weather Presents Another Challenge

If you’re looking to electrify your company’s fleet of automobiles, you can add another hurdle to your list: cold weather.

Like unevenly distributed charging stations and elusive subsidy requirements, cold weather poses a significant challenge to your ability to go green, as plunging temperatures can cause electric vehicle batteries to take longer to charge while also reducing the driving range. Much of the U.S. was plunged into bitter cold over the past week with wind chills as low as minus 70 degrees Fahrenheit. This has already posed a challenge to consumers who rely on EVs. Disgruntled Chicago Tesla owners stuck in long lines at charging stations or forced to call for a tow have dominated headlines. EV owners have also reported substantially reduced range and longer charge times.

While upfront costs of EVs can be higher, electrified fleets incur cost savings over time on things like fuel and maintenance, according to fleet management company Forward Thinking. Companies including Amazon, Clif Bar & Company and DHL have incorporated EVs into their fleets. For small businesses, EV fleets can cut down on carbon emissions and boost a company’s reputation among conscious consumers, but a dysfunctional EV fleet could be crippling.

Much of the reason EVs lose range during the cold has to do with cabin heating. Traditional internal combustion engine vehicles use wasted heat from the engine to create a comfortable environment for the driver. The lithium-ion batteries in EVs on the other hand must use additional energy to generate heat. According to research from Consumer Reports, this could knock 25 to 50 percent off an EV’s stated range, depending on driving conditions. Cold EV batteries take longer to charge, which is actually a protective mechanism for batteries. But charge time should return to normal once a battery has warmed, according to research from Recurrent Auto.

So How can you get the best performance out of your EV fleet? Indoor parking is the best way to avoid the common pitfalls plaguing EVs in cold weather, but that’s not always an option for a larger fleet of vehicles. When parking outside, preconditioning a vehicle, or warming the battery, before driving can help with drain. Warming the cab before departure can also cut down on the energy required while driving, according to Forward Thinking. Maintaining a battery charge of 20 percent at minimum while operating is also key.