How much does using your AirCon Affect EV Range?

With temperatures reaching over 30 degrees, you may be wondering, “How much range does using the air con really cost me?” While EVs are incredibly efficient, running the air conditioning can still have a small but noticeable impact on battery life, especially in high summer temperatures. Understanding how and why this happens can help you drive your EV more efficiently to maximise range all year round.

AirCon vs. Heating

Let’s start with some good news: cooling your EV typically uses less energy than heating it. This comes down to temperature difference. If it’s 32°C outside and you’re aiming for 21°C inside, that’s an 11°C drop. But in winter, heating from 0°C to 21°C means a 21°C increase – nearly double the energy requirement.

Unlike petrol or diesel cars that produce waste heat from the engine, EVs don’t have excess heat to repurpose or fight against. So, both heating and cooling require direct power from the battery, but heating demands more – a key reason EV range tends to drop more in cold weather than in summer.

How Much Range Does A/C Really Use?

Every system inside an EV requires battery energy, from using wipers to heated seats. But the biggest drain other than actually driving is using aircon or heating. The battery pack itself also needs cooling in hot weather, using up more power.

While most drivers won’t notice a huge drop, air conditioning can reduce range by 5% to 17%, depending on the outside temperature, vehicle model, and driving conditions. To put it in perspective: If your air con system draws 3–4kW, you would only lose about 7 miles of range per hour while it’s running.

Tips to Maximise EV Range in Hot Weather:

1. Precondition While Plugged In

If you cool your interior while it’s charging, it will use power from the grid instead of your vehicle’s battery. Most EVs let you schedule this via an app.

2. Avoid Low Battery in the Heat (and cold!)

Your EV uses energy to maintain optimal temperature for its high-voltage battery, for cooling in high temperatures and heating in cold conditions. Try to keep the charge above 50% or plug in and set a charging limit of 80%.

3. Use Eco Modes

Some vehicles have eco modes (such as the Vivaro-E) that save energy by reducing the compressor load – which in turn reduces fan speed and power of climate control systems. While these features do help conserve energy, the actual impact on range tends to be minimal, so sometimes prioritising comfort is okay over a few extra miles!

4. Park in the Shade

Sounds obvious, but reducing the interior temperature before you start driving means less work for the A/C.

By the way, don’t be alarmed if you notice a small puddle of water under your EV after using the air conditioning – especially when parked or idling – it’s probably just the condensation draining from the A/C system!

Conclusion

Air conditioning does use some battery power, but with a few smart habits, you can stay cool without sacrificing too many miles. And since EVs don’t produce tailpipe emissions, you can keep cool without affecting your range when done right! Plus, the technology is continuing to advance with newer models becoming even more efficient, so we can expect them to be better at handling climate control in the future too.

Discover more tips and info, and explore how Holman’s EV solutions can help you get the most out of your EV investment.