[Indian2003]

This week I am driving a brand new Nissan e-NV200. The range is about 250 km in hot weather. This morning the temperature was about -5 degrees celcius.

I started my second shift with a range of 255 km on the meter but after 134 km I had a range of only 21 km. I drove on eco mode with maximum regenerative braking and a top speed of 90 km/hour.



I expect chaos this winter when temperatures drop down to the low 20s or less.

Early this morning I started with a 220 km range and managed to get 85 km with preheating of the cabin. I had 99 km left when I returned.
It is not possible to preheat the cabin with the cable connected unlike the Tesla.

EVs might give almost the full range in summer temperatures but I doubt it will work so well in the winter with the kind of driving I do.

[Vitruvius]

I've read somewhere that when driving in extremely cold conditions like where you are, it's prudent to have range that's double the distance you want to drive.
For eg if you're planning a 100km drive, your battery range should be 200km.

[GTO]

Luckily for EVs, in India, it's pretty much warm weather or summer all year long. In most parts, even the winters are "cool" (like Bombay) instead of cold. Hardly any cities & towns suffer snow or chilling temperatures in India.

[mohanphadnis]

In India, it cuts the other way. Due to too much heat, the battery deteriorates quicker.

[Shreyans_Jain]

Originally Posted by mohanphadnis

In India, it cuts the other way. Due to too much heat, the battery deteriorates quicker.

Very true. A lot of Nexon EVs and ZS EVs have been sold in Delhi NCR this year. It remains to be seen how their range and charging speeds hold up in May heat. If these cars are not able to handle the near 50 degree ambient temperatures, we might see quite a few unhappy customers next summer.

[srini1785]

Originally Posted by Indian2003

..
EVs might give almost the full range in summer temperatures but I doubt it will work so well in the winter with the kind of driving I do.

My understanding is that as the temperature goes down, the interior heating systems takes up more energy and hence the shortened range. Optimal range is achieved between 20-25 deg C. For India, this means that night time is best suited for EV's (Frankly, I don't know if even night time temperatures come down to that extent in most parts of India).

So switch off the heating and put on thick reindeer hide and enjoy better range.

[Indian2003]

This morning the temperature was +4 degrees and I drove and I drove 101 km starting from the same range as yesterday.
Just the slight increase in temperature left me with120 km compared to the 99 yesterday after driving only 85 km.

[14000rpm]

Many taxi drivers in the Nordic Countries who shifted to Electric cars have now started hyper-mileing in the winters. Especially those who buy cheaper EV's such as the Hyundai IONIQ. I was in one such miserable taxi ride in a IONIQ where the driver never turned on the heater. he came in a cold car and took me on a miserably cold ride to the airport. He never spoke English but he saw my frustration and did nothing about it. I didn't have the time to get off and take a different cab.

The Tesla taxi's I have ridden in (during winter) with longer range never did this.

This is going to be a thing.

[Indian2003]

All the EVs at work have Webasto diesel air heaters that blows hot air to keep the cabin warm.
Some private EVs are fitted with diesel heaters.
Without these heaters the range will be even less in extreme cold weather.

The diesel tank.


The air heater.

[Raghu M]

I think EVs react to extreme weather conditions. Don't think India will be an exception as parts of the country (read majority) touch 40+ degrees for at least 100 days every year during summers. Various parts of Andhra and Telangana touch 45 degrees during peak summer. I think existing EV owners could comment on that. Another reason why EVs may not pick up as anticipated. After all, there is too many factors affecting the range.

[sandeepmohan]

Originally Posted by Indian2003

This week I am driving a brand new Nissan e-NV200.

Its a nice little EV Van. I was stumped by the acceleration for what is a pretty basic EV. The company that I work for uses it to ferry cargo between 8 office buildings. The distance between offices buildings does not exceed 3km per trip so its perfect. We did not buy more of these for reasons I do not know. The old Corolla Wagons and Hiace vans are run alongside this little Nissan.

[landcruiser123]

EVs are a pain in the winter. I did my MS in Minneapolis (the medium-sized city with brutal winters in the midwest maybe comparable to the Nordics) and when discussing EVs as part of my research project with my professor.

Rule of thumb: EVs generally have 60% normal summer range in winter.

OT: If you walk in the cold, your phone batteries will die fast. I remember stepping out in a -20 degree C winter in downtown Detroit with about 40% battery in my iPhone SE (1st gen with a small battery). After clicking half a dozen photos in about 20 minutes, I was down to 9%.

[Kosfactor]

Originally Posted by 14000rpm

he came in a cold car and took me on a miserably cold ride to the airport. He never spoke English but he saw my frustration and did nothing about it.

Imagine if it was the other way around , hot & humid weather , cab comes without AC. I`m so glad someone figured out internal combustion engines.

[14000rpm]

Originally Posted by Indian2003

All the EVs at work have Webasto diesel air heaters that blows hot air to keep the cabin warm.
Some private EVs are fitted with diesel heaters.
Without these heaters the range will be even less in extreme cold weather.

Very Sensible Solution. Some here have the DEFA Cabin warmer that works off of the wall socket that is available on all parking slots for engine block warming.

[Doge]

Doesn't your van have an air-cooled battery pack? The leafs are notorious for losing their battery capacity because of the air-cooled design. The Tesla's are offcourse liquid cooled. They can also heat/cool their batteries when plugged in which I assume the Nissans can't.