Summer is the best season to go on an electric road trip. With warmer temperatures and a growing network of ultra-fast chargers, the distances EVs can drive with a full battery, their ranges, are not as limited as many may think.
How Weather and Roads Impact EV Ranges
Range anxiety often comes from uncertainty about EV technology, as people not yet familiar with an electrified world perceive EV ranges and charging infrastructures to be limited. In the summertime, though, when temperatures are usually moderate, EV ranges increase because of the nature of weather conditions:
Cold weather: Air molecules move more slowly and pack together in the cold, getting dense, which increases the drag and requires the EV more energy to move. Heating the cabin also drains battery power.
Very hot weather: Air conditioning and battery cooling systems demand extra energy.
Rain or snow: The wet roads cause more friction—rolling resistance—forcing the motor to work harder, and use more energy.
Even diesel vehicles face similar energy drains from resistance to these weather conditions (also including wind and air pressure). The real difference lay in the convenience and availability of gas stops, compared to EV charging stations… until technology beat this difference.
Summer is an EV’s Best Friend
Recent weather-based EV range reports reveal trends that support the statement that EVs and summers work together effectively:
Up to 17% Range Boost: Drivers gain up to 17% more miles in July and August than the national average.
Regional and Temporal Peaks:
Spring (March-April): The South and Southwest regions in the U.S. lead with favorable driving conditions.
Summer: Ranges go up nationwide. New Mexico, Utah, and Colorado, with their moderate temperatures and high altitudes, have the longest EV range during the summer, peaking in July and August.
Fall: Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico maintain strong ranges even as northern states start to decline in range due to their coolness.
Seasonal shifts happen because of the weather’s impacts, but EV ranges are too long and charging stations are too efficient to worry about struggling when refueling.
Why Range Anxiety is Outdated
The rise of Direct Current Fast Charging (DCFC) instigated road trip readiness for modern EV charging stations. The vast DCFC network ensures you’re back on the road quickly by recharging batteries fully in minutes. Even if poor driving conditions sap 10-15% of EV ranges, reliable and fast charging solutions are there for a reason.
Adventure Charges with Reliable Infrastructure
At viveEV, charging solutions are dependable. Our DCFCs adapt to your needs by having options for the recharge speed. The viveEV’s DCFC capacity is up to 600kW with the product Tron, which can share charging dynamically for no wait. All of viveEV’s products have IP54-rated durability for rain and heat—two factors that can negatively affect range, but not viveEV’s durable chargers.
EVs are ready for long drives this summer, this fall, this winter, next spring, and so on. As warmer temperatures stretch ranges and DCFC technology grows, electrification will be adopted at an accelerating pace. The continuous deployment of viveEV’s DCFC infrastructure guarantees that range anxiety won’t occur in the near future.
At viveEV, we are committed to providing fast chargers that people can reliably utilize, boasting industry-leading uptimes. Check out viveEV.com for more information.