The Ford Mustang Mach-E has fared quite well in terms of efficiency, posting EPA range ratings that are competitive in the EV space, as well as ranking as the second most efficient small SUV in Consumer Reports testing. However, even though the Mach-E’s range ratings have held up well in different kinds of weather, as is the case with most EVs, range can suffer depending on temperatures, and that’s precisely what Consumer Reports discovered recently when testing the Ford Mustang Mach-E and a host of its competitors.
The consumer organization tested five all-wheel drive EV crossovers – the Ford Mustang Mach-E extended range, Hyundai Ioniq 5, Tesla Model Y Long Range, and Volkswagen ID.4 Pro S – to determine precisely how each is affected by both cold and hot temperatures. Each vehicle was tested in exactly the same way in the same weather, on three different days – a cold one, a mild day, and a hot day, along a 142-mile round trip down Connecticut Route 2 and I-91.
Overall, cold weather averaging 16 degrees drained about 25 percent of these vehicles’ range when driving at 70 miles-per-hour compared to mild weather – a significant cut, indeed. Meanwhile, taking short trips while running the heater also zapped range by around 50 percent. However, warm 80 degree days produced the best range results, interestingly enough.
In terms of individual models, the Ford Mustang Mach-E traveled 188 miles on a charge in cold weather, 250 miles in mild weather, and 275 miles in warm temperatures, the latter of which is actually higher than the car’s 270-mile EPA rating. That’s also right on par with the Tesla Model Y, which has an EPA rating of 326 miles but only traveled 186 miles in cold temps, 252 miles in mild ones, and 274 in warmer weather. An interesting result indeed, and one that underscores the need for automakers to be more upfront about how weather affects EV range in general.
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Comments
So…range is dependent on temperature?
Wow. you don’t say.
Anyway, in other news, water is wet.
There’s one useful nugget of info here which I’ve suspected for a while: The Tesla Model Y’s heat pump doesn’t seem to help it’s range.
Rural areas as in the UP of Michigan are severely lacking in dcfc ccs chargers and locations. Makes road tripping difficult
My mind is blown…..really? Batteries are effected by temperature? So that explains why my cordless drill batteries don’t last very long when they are really cold. Been trying to figure that out since I got my Makita back in the mid 80’s. Like Dan says, water is wet. LOL, good one Dan.
Using the heater must use a lot of power, cold temps have always affected batteries in a bad way. The fact that we the public have not gotten all the facts as they are right now on battery power, efficiency , longevity, etc., is not surprising . the lack of a quality electric charging grid at this time makes EV’s short range use vehicles, or longer travel time, by hours or even days due to the problems with recharging times and quality of the chargers available . this pushing of EV’s down your throat with so many questions left unanswered is just nuts.
Bob, I feel like we’re driving 100 mph down a smooth paved road in a new shiney car with no brakes and a 500 ft cliff at the end of it all. Never witnessed so many lies, lack of common sense and diversion of truth aimed at a products’ quality/performance (EV’s) in my 68 years of living. What Detroit is telling us is no different than what Washington tells us. You know how to tell if an pro EV CEO is lying? When their lips are moving.
Interestingly enough, the distance to empty in my gas powered car is less as well in cold weather. Wow.
Maybe these EV companies should find alternate ways to heat their vehicles in the winter, that does not draw down the battery. I recall years ago my 60s VW bug had a kerosene heater in it, because of limited heating from the air cooled engine in the back. Might be an option.
Comical. EVs are very expensive to repair and you still have to pay for the electricity. Not to mention road trips would take 35% longer having to wait for it to charge. Americans are not interested.
This weather Battery issue totally changed my mind. I was thinking seriously about purchasing a Mach-E.
What’s particularly interesting in this article is the fact that the Mach-E exceeded its EPA rating in one test, but the Tesla Model Y never came close to its EPA rating. Perhaps the EPA needs to revisit its testing/rating system?
I would like to see a test of how it performs in 100 degree weather like what we’ve experienced in Texas most of this summer. We do get cold occasionally but 100 degree days are normal in this part of the country for 2-3 months out of the year.
It would be really great if the actual temperatures would be used. The Minneapolis area has about a 140ish-degree temperature range (+108 to -34F). Saying cold, mild, warm is sort of a joke; let’s get to some real numbers, please. Your idea of cold is likely shorts weather in Minneapolis.