Recent research suggests that extreme temperatures can impact the range of electric vehicles (EVs). Surprisingly, the scorching heat in the South is not necessarily worse for EV range than the freezing cold in other parts of the United States.
Vaisala, a Finnish company specializing in measurement instruments, conducted a comprehensive analysis of how weather and road conditions influence EV range across all 48 contiguous states. The study considered various factors such as temperature variations by month, wind patterns, snow-induced rolling resistance, air density, and solar radiation.
The research revealed that states with lower latitudes and higher average temperatures generally yielded better EV range results. Arizona, Florida, Texas, Georgia, and Louisiana emerged as the top five states for EV range, while Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, North Dakota, and Minnesota ranked lowest due to their colder climates.
Interestingly, the study also compared EV adoption rates across different states with their respective ideal EV conditions. Some states with favorable EV conditions surprisingly had lower adoption rates, and vice versa. For instance, although California leads in EV adoption, it does not offer the best conditions for maximizing EV range.
Despite lacking sales mandates or strong incentives for EVs, Florida and Texas stand out for their high EV sales figures. This trend challenges the notion that EV adoption is solely driven by government policies. Interestingly, states that have adopted California’s EV mandate are not necessarily the ones with the most favorable EV conditions.