If you look at the window sticker of an electric car, you will see its range rating. While that range is theoretically possible, it can differ by a lot in real-world conditions.

There are several things to consider that could affect an electric vehicle's range, and before you make the purchase, you need to have them in mind alongside the capacity of the car's battery. Note that not everyone is suited to the lifestyle of using an electric vehicle, so, apart from the range and battery, be sure that such a vehicle is right for you.

Cold Temperatures

Your electric vehicle's range can drastically drop when the weather is cold. It has been discovered by a study at the Idaho National Laboratory that a 25% drop in its range is possible when temperatures are at freezing levels. Also, a plunge that low can drastically draw down the efficiency of your auto, making it appear several models lower in comparison.

Photo by Alexandr Podvalny from Pexels An electric car’s range and charging efficiency are reduced at freezing temperatures.

It was also discovered that fast charging efficiency is more than 30% lower at those same temperatures. So when you want to buy an electric car, going for newer models can better guarantee its real-world range. They also offer better resistance to colder weather conditions and have better batteries. If you choose a used vehicle, you have to examine it thoroughly to decide if it's worth it.

Hot Temperatures

Likewise, in hot temperatures, the range is significantly lowered. Temperature has such a massive impact on the range of electric vehicles because both the heating and cooling functions are powered by electricity. Overwork will reduce the capacity of the battery to work very efficiently. It's far from regular combustion-engined autos that have two different accessories where one functions to provide heat and the other compresses refrigerant to cool itself.

Nissan Leaf Heat Pump New heating and cooling innovations to improve range efficiency in electric vehicles.

But there's hope that things will get better for electric vehicles because many innovations are improving the range. A recent one is all about using a heat pump system that utilizes the heat from the automobile's cooling system. This system is already operational in the Nissan Leaf.

Battery Life

Because of how battery capacity drops with use in an electric vehicle, buying a used one is usually not advised if you need the range to be at its peak.

Photo by Erik Mclean from Pexels Electrical vehicle battery technology is improving rapidly.

Also, since battery technology continues to improve at a faster pace, a newer model's battery will have more storage capacity and may even be cheaper. But if the range you need is not in the three digits, then you don't have much to worry about with a used electric vehicle.