I see and hear about a random EV that has X range in 20 degree (Celsius) weather, steady speed of 110 km/h, but Y range (significant difference) if it’s 130 km/h. Even more of a difference if it’s 0 degrees.
If it needs to pull a trailer with 500kg it loses, i don’t know, 25% of the range?
There are probably other examples. I’m not talking these specific examples, i just mean in general.
Nobody ever talks about that when it comes to cars that run on gas or diesel, i assume because it doesnt affect them as much. Why?
In: Engineering
While others seem to have the right idea, I think they’re missing the main reason behind the variation to EV ranges. EVs are just more efficient but have way less energy to work with.
A gas engine is at most 30% efficient. And a gallon of gas has a lot of energy in it! So a whole tank of fuel, with a hideously inefficient engine, has a ton of room to hide variations. Gas cars take a mileage penalty in the winter but it’s hard to notice over an entire tank of gas.
An EV has much less energy to work with but the engine is much much more efficnet. My crappy Ford EV has a battery that only holds as much energy as a gallon of gas but can drive me 80 miles. Any slight wind penalty, or temp/battery penalty, will be felt because the engine is using the energy about as well as it can.
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