With more and more Minnesotans opting for electric vehicles these days, just how DO they handle the cold on a day like today?
James Vierling is in charge of growth, marketing and communications for Hourcar, which operates Evie Electric Cars in Minneapolis and St. Paul.
He says a car's battery life is typically reduced in the extreme cold, similar to how your cell phone doesn't quite hold it's charge.
"We do see the batteries decrease in normal capacity. So like a normal Chevrolet Volt may get 260 miles, and we're seeing around a 20 percent range reduction," explains Vierling.
Vierling says a bigger challenge than the weather is the need for more electric vehicle charging stations, particularly in greater Minnesota.
"I think as soon as we develop more electric chargers along interstates, and state parks and places where people are going, I really don't foresee electric vehicles being a problem in the cold weather," Vierling explains.
According to the Minnesota Department of Transportation, roughly $68 million in new federal funding will be used to build out a fast-charging network across the state.
Key requirements
- Stations located no more than 50 miles apart along the AFC.
- Stations located less than one mile driving distance from the AFC Exit.
- Stations have a minimum of four 150 kW charging ports able to operate simultaneously.
- Stations are open to the public 24 hours a day, seven days a week with no entry fee to access the chargers.
"I have a Model 3 Tesla I bought in 2019. It's great for the metro area, I use it as my daily driver," says WCCO meteorologist Paul Douglas. "I've noticed about a 15-20 percent degradation in my battery when it gets below 10 or 15 (degrees). When I juice it all the way up it has a range of about 300 miles. I drive about 25 miles a day so it's fine for me."
Douglas says having a garage or carport where you can charge your EV overnight, and using it for a commute is the easiest way to use them. He does say he has a gas-powered car he uses for longer trips because of the issues with charging vehicles on the road.
"I'm impatient, I want to stop, gas up and go," Douglas says. "When we get more superchargers, I think the equation will shift and more people will be able to use them for long distance trips."
Currently, there are approximately 1,900 charging ports across Minnesota with the vast majority in the counties surrounding Minneapolis-St. Paul. Those numbers have nearly doubled since 2020.
You can find more tips and tricks on dealing with the cold weather with your EV here.