Drivers of electric vehicles are paying as much as 70% more to charge their cars in winter compared to summer, according to new research. UK automotive agency UpShift said it had calculated the cost of running the most popular electric, petrol and diesel cars in normal and cold conditions around the world to determine whether EVs are still the most cost-effective option in winter.
EV batteries are affected negatively by cold weather, with their range reducing compared to during warmer conditions. Adding in the use of the car's heater and things such as heated seats also uses juice.
Using current electricity and fuel costs, UpShift said it applied the rates to an EV’s estimated drop in efficiency in colder months. It said the results revealed that the reduced efficiency in winter meant electric car owners faced paying nearly 70% more in charging costs each month.
Their average charging cost per month throughout winter months jumps from the usual £47.22 to £80.04, the company said. However it claimed it was still a £44.89 saving compared to running a petrol or diesel car.
UpShift said the above figures were calculated from UK electricity and fuel costs, applied to the UK’s average mileage and most popular car of each fuel type. The results were based on an EV’s 41% drop in efficiency and a petrol/diesel car’s 11% in efficiency in cold weather.
Comparatively, the company said, drivers of petrol and diesel cars faced just a 12% rise in costs each month through winter, which is due to petrol and diesel vehicles having a smaller drop in fuel efficiency than electric cars. While these drivers face a smaller jump in prices through winter, however, they’re still faced with higher actual fuel costs. UpShift’s estimated cost of fuelling a petrol/diesel car is estimated at £111.19 per month in mild weather, jumping to £124.93 in winter – or £374.79 across the season.
UpShift also conducted the same analysis for 19 other EV-friendly countries to reveal how the UK fairs in comparison for EV running costs. Thanks to sky-rocketing electricity rates, the UK came 10th in UpShift’s analysis, with the United States boasting the most monthly savings in winter. Each mile travelled in an EV in the UK in winter costs roughly 14p – almost three times that of the US.
