The report found that the Nissan Leaf takes substantially longer to charge in cold weather (Image: Getty)
A new study has found the least reliable to , with a number of popular models offering a shorter range.
Whilst EVs have far fewer moving parts when compared to petrol or diesel alternatives and their technology is continuing to improve, many of the most popular models do not perform as well when exposed to .
According to a study by , which assessed factors including typical range reduction in cold weather and charging time, the electric model affected the worst by winter is the .
One of the most popular EVs since it was first introduced in 2010, the company noted that the typically loses 38% of its range when used in cold weather.
It also takes significantly longer to replenish the Nissan’s battery during cold weather, with owners needing 59 minutes to charge from 10 to 80 percent using a rapid DC charging point.
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The firm also claimed that the Tesla Model Y’s range drops by an average of 52 percent in the cold (Image: Getty)
Another popular electric car that Vaziri Law Group Personal Injury Attorneys noted is badly affected by cold winter weather is the Tesla Model Y.
In particular, the popular Tesla crossover saw a 52% drop in range during cold weather, with seven accidents involving a Model Y recorded over the past three years.
The Tesla Model X also performed badly during the study, with the same amount of range loss and 30 minutes required to charge the battery from 10 to 80%.
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Motorists were urged to precondition the battery to its optimum working temperature before journeys (Image: Getty)
To help drivers minimise the impact that winter can have on an electric car, Vaziri Law Group Personal Injury Attorneys recommended that motorists precondition their vehicle to its opimum working temperature before each journey.
They advised: “Since low temperatures can reduce battery range by 10% to 20% or more, pre-conditioning the cabin and battery while plugged in helps limit energy loss and preserves range.
“Planning extra time for charging can also be helpful, as charging speeds tend to slow in winter. Investing in winter tyres improves handling, particularly given the added weight of EVs, which can make slides harder to control on icy roads.”
The 10 least reliable electric vehicles in winter (unreliability score out of 100):
- Nissan Leaf – 77.59
- Tesla Model Y – 76.14
- Tesla Model X – 75.88
- Volkswagen ID4 – 73.85
- Tesla Model S – 70.68
- BMW i3 – 70
- Volkswagen e-Golf – 69.61
- Ford Mustang Mach-E – 68.69
- Chevrolet Bolt – 66.32
- Kia EV6 – 59.51