Concerns over an electric vehicle’s ability to hold a charge in freezing temperatures recently prompted CAA to conduct a cold weather driving test – and not surprisingly, it found that EVs perform below their official range in cold weather.

Vehicles representing two-thirds of the EVs purchased in Canada were put to the test on a road trip between Ottawa and Mont Tremblant in Quebec at temperatures below zero.

The results showed that the vehicles drove between 14 and 39 per cent below their official range. The test also found a significant variation between vehicles when it came to how much charge an EV could gain in 15 minutes,.

That, says CAA, highlights the importance of considering charging rates for those who frequently drive long distances.