Which EVs perform the best in winter weather? New report lists best cars for cold climates

A new report by international online car auction platform eCarsTrade has concluded that the Zeekr 007 is the best electric vehicle (EV) for long winter road trips, capable of covering over 700 kilometres while losing only 16 per cent of its power.

The new report from eCarsTrade analysed 57 EVs to identify the most reliable cars for long-distance performance in cold climates. The analysis measured how far each vehicle can realistically travel in cold conditions as well as how efficiently they use energy.

A range of EVs were considered, including sedans, SUVs, and trucks, and limited to those that are available or broadly announced in major markets and have publishable specifications plus winter-loss data, or at least enough technical data to estimate.

It seems, then, that eCarsTrade did not do the testing itself, but relied on published data such as rated range in kilometres, winter range loss in percentage points from real-world winter testing where it was available, battery capacity in kilowatt-hours, efficiency, and price.

The report evaluated each car across four key indicators – real-world winter range, followed by battery loss in freezing temperatures, energy efficiency, and purchase price.

Topping the report’s findings was the Zeekr 007 with a rated range of 870 kilometres but real-world winter highway range of 730 kilometres, a winter range loss of 16 per cent.

The Zeekr 007 was followed by the Nio ET7 (150kWh), Polestar 3 – which was also found to be the most reliable, with only a 8.5 per cent loss – Zeekr 001, and Mercedes-Benz EQS sedan. Rankings for the top 10 from the report are found below, and the complete research findings can be found here.

“Cold weather kills EV range because batteries just don’t work as well when they’re freezing,” said one of eCarsTrade’s experts.

“We’re running the heater, the battery itself is less efficient, and the whole system has to work harder.

“What separates good winter EVs from bad ones isn’t just the size of the battery, it’s having proper thermal management that keeps everything at the right temperature. Some automakers build that in from day one, and that’s why they stand out.”

Joshua S. Hill

Joshua S. Hill is a Melbourne-based journalist who has been writing about climate change, clean technology, and electric vehicles for over 15 years. He has been reporting on electric vehicles and clean technologies for Renew Economy and The Driven since 2012. His preferred mode of transport is his feet.