Worried about winter EV range loss? Brutal test reveals the 10 hardiest models you can buy –and Tesla only just made the list
Summary
The Norwegian Automotive Federation conducted tests on popular electric vehicles (EVs) to evaluate their performance in extreme weather conditions, providing valuable insights for consumers and manufacturers alike in the evolving EV market.
Key Insights
What is the El Prix Winter Range Test?
The El Prix Winter Range Test is an annual independent assessment conducted by Norway's Motor magazine and the Norwegian Automobile Federation (NAF), evaluating how far popular electric vehicles can travel on a single charge in extreme Norwegian winter conditions, often resulting in significant range deviations from official WLTP ratings.
Why do EVs lose range in winter, and how much in this test?
EVs lose range in winter due to cold temperatures reducing battery efficiency and performance, with the El Prix test showing losses up to 46% or more compared to WLTP ratings; for example, the Polestar 3 lost only 5%, while Tesla Model 3 lost 24%.