Warmer weather creeping across parts of the United States could have an immediate impact on electric‑vehicle drivers.
Warmer temperatures make the chemical process that electric vehicle batteries use to store energy speed up, which is why with much of the nation emerging from a cold winter, EV owners are gearing up for a summer with better battery performance and shorter charging times.
A 2024 study by Consumer Reports found that EV batteries perform 25% better on range when cruising at 70 mph in temperatures warmer than 20 degrees. The group tested four models made by different manufacturers in warm, mild and cold temperatures and found they achieved an average of nearly 243 miles on a mild day with temperatures around 65 degrees, compared to an average of nearly 182 miles on a battery charge in the same driving conditions on a cold day with temperatures around 16 degrees.
On a warm summer day, the battery performance was even better, with an average of almost 265 miles on a battery charge.
Though to be fair cold weather impacting performance isn’t just an electric vehicle problem. The gas mileage of a conventional gasoline car is about 15% higher at 77 degrees than it is at 20 degrees, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.
Less than 2% of the nearly 300 million vehicles in the United States are electric, according to Experian, so the problem isn’t affecting large numbers of people. Also, the state with the highest sales is still California, where warm weather is the norm. But that’s changing. U.S. electric vehicle purchases accounted for 7.8% of all new car sales in 2025, according to a Cox Automotive report.
Most cars or trucks do better when it’s warm than they do when it’s freezing out, but electric ones might get the biggest boost. Here’s why:
Why Do EV Batteries Charge Faster and Last Longer in Warm Weather?
It’s well documented that colder batteries don’t work as well. The ideal operating temperature for an EV battery is between about 68 and 86 degrees, depending on the model.
The electrochemical processes the battery uses to charge speed up as the temperature rises. To charge, the car first has to warm the battery, which requires time and energy. Because of this, the battery takes longer to charge the colder it gets.
A battery charges when lithium ions stored in the cathode transfer back to the anode. In warmer charging conditions, the ions flow more efficiently through the anode and the battery’s capacity increases.
How to Maximize Performance From an EV in the Spring and Summer
1. Charge while your battery is warm. Most EVs today automatically preheat their batteries when they know they’re heading to a charger. This allows them to charge quickly and efficiently when plugged in. If you charge at home, consider plugging in right away while the vehicle is still warm.
2. If you can, park indoors — even in the spring and summer. This keeps your battery warmer, so not as much energy has to be used to warm it up later. A car cover can also help.
3. Turn off your air conditioner while you charge, and use it sparingly while driving. Using your A/C while your EV is charging is generally considered safe, but it might slow down your battery’s overall charging time.
Also, according to data from the website Recurrent, the impact of running the air conditioning in your EV during the summer is negligible until outside temperatures hit over 80 degrees Fahrenheit. But once it gets hotter than that, they found the following impacts:
Range loss at 80 degrees across multiple models was about 2.8%
Range loss at 90 degrees was about 5%
Range loss at 100 degrees was based on extremely limited data, but could be 31%
4. Make sure your tire pressure is correct. Underfilled tires result in increased rolling resistance in any weather, which means it takes your vehicle more energy to move forward. The problem is likely to be more acute in colder weather, but you should still keep an eye on your tire pressure in the spring and summer.
5. Drive with eco-mode on. Most EVs offer this, which requires the least amount of energy while sacrificing some performance.
6. Don’t let your battery get below 20%. Your battery will need power just to warm up enough to charge, which happens more quickly in the spring and summer than it does in the winter. But if it gets too low you might not be able to charge even if you’re plugged in.
Stephen Beard contributed to this report.
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