Electric vehicles (EVs) lose a significant portion of their driving range in extreme heat, according to a recent test carried out in southern Spain, one of Europe’s hottest regions.
The study, conducted by What Car?, examined how three EVs performed in ambient temperatures exceeding 40°C (104°F). The models tested were a Citroen e-C3 with a 44-kWh air-cooled battery, a Kia EV3 long-range variant with an 81.4-kWh pack, and a Tesla Model 3 Long Range dual-motor with an 80-kWh battery.
See also: University of Michigan Researchers Develop Electrode Coating to Speed Up EV Charging in Cold Weather
Driven at highway speeds, all three cars fell well short of their official WLTP range ratings. The Citroen was estimated to cover 142 miles before depletion, 28.7% less than its claimed 199 miles. The Kia EV3 showed a 32% drop, managing 246 miles instead of its rated 362. The Tesla Model 3 experienced the sharpest decline, with a calculated maximum range of 244 miles—44% below its official 436-mile claim—despite being the most efficient at 3 miles/kWh.
Charging performance, however, showed less variation. Both the Tesla and Kia closely matched their official 10–80% fast-charging times, at 32 and 31 minutes respectively. The Citroen, equipped with less advanced thermal management, took 74 minutes to charge from 3% to 80% using a slower backup charger after a higher-capacity station failed.
See also: Tesla Enhances Supercharging Performance in Cold Weather with New Software Update
The results highlight how hot-weather conditions, combined with higher air conditioning use, can dramatically reduce range. Testers noted that the Tesla’s glass roof required heavier cooling, which likely contributed to its larger shortfall.