When you first purchase an electric vehicle (EV), one of the most crucial numbers you see is its “range”—the distance the car can travel on a single full charge. This figure is determined through standardized laboratory testing, using a dynamometer that simulates driving conditions on rollers rather than real roads.
However, if you’re an EV owner—or even if you’ve rented one—you quickly discover that this laboratory range is more of a best-case scenario than an everyday guarantee. Like conventional gasoline cars, EVs perform very differently out in the real world. Variables such as terrain, speed, passenger load, driving style, and, perhaps most importantly, outdoor temperature, all have a significant impact on how far you can actually drive on that single charge.
In warm or hot climates, the challenge of getting the most out of your battery becomes even more pressing. While winter range loss tends to get more headlines—thanks to the obvious drain of the heater—summer heat can be equally punishing on your EV’s battery performance, just in different ways.
Let’s look at how high temperatures affect your EV battery, what you can do to mitigate the impact, and how your driving habits and vehicle technology work together to keep you moving.
Modern electric vehicles rely on lithium-ion batteries, a technology prized for its energy density, relatively low weight, and rechargeability. Yet, like any complex chemical system, lithium-ion cells are sensitive to temperature extremes—especially heat.
Cold weather usually only affects your battery’s performance temporarily. You may notice reduced range or slower charging speeds in freezing temperatures, but once things warm up again, the battery chemistry returns to normal. Excessive heat, on the other hand, is far more insidious.
Repeated or prolonged exposure to temperatures above about 85°F (29°C) accelerates the aging process inside your battery pack. High temperatures speed up unwanted chemical reactions within the battery’s cells, degrading the electrolytes and internal structures that store and deliver energy.
What does this mean in practical terms? Over time, your battery’s ability to hold a full charge diminishes, resulting in:
Reduced overall capacity — the car simply can’t store as much energy as it once could.
Slower charging speeds — the car’s battery management system may throttle charging rates to protect the battery from further heat damage.
Shortened lifespan — the battery may reach its “end-of-life” capacity threshold (usually 70% to 80% of its original capacity) sooner than expected.
Not all summer range loss comes from irreversible chemical damage. In fact, many drivers notice their range drops 5% to 10% during the warmest months—and not because the battery itself is failing.
The biggest culprit? Increased energy use by the car’s systems to keep you, and itself, comfortable and safe.
Keeping the cabin at a comfortable temperature takes energy. While an EV’s air conditioning system is more efficient than a gas car’s heater, it still consumes power. The hotter it gets outside, the more the air conditioning must work to keep you cool, drawing energy from the same battery that powers your drive.
Likewise, the vehicle’s battery thermal management system often kicks into high gear during extreme heat. Active cooling—using liquid coolant loops, fans, or heat pumps—prevents the battery from overheating, but that cooling system itself requires electricity.
Heat also affects your tires. On hot days, the air inside your tires expands, potentially increasing rolling resistance if your tire pressure is too high. This slight but measurable increase in friction means your motor must work harder to maintain the same speed—again, consuming more battery power.
While the range loss varies depending on your location, vehicle make and model, and driving habits, the average drop is modest—often around 5% to 10%.
Still, on a long summer road trip or during daily commuting in a region where temperatures hover above 95°F (35°C), that drop can feel significant. It might mean needing an extra charging stop or adjusting your plans to account for slower charging speeds.
Thankfully, modern EVs are equipped with sophisticated battery thermal management systems. Unlike older models that relied on passive air cooling alone, most new EVs use active liquid cooling to keep battery temperatures in check—even on the hottest days.
Still, there are steps you can take to reduce heat’s impact on your EV and keep your battery healthy for years to come.
Your EV uses some of its stored energy to run its thermal management systems. If your state of charge drops too low—especially below 20%—the battery may struggle to keep itself cool, increasing the risk of heat damage.
Many experts recommend keeping your battery between 50% and 80% in hot weather when possible. If you’ll be parked for an extended time in extreme heat, plug your vehicle in with a charge limit set to prevent overcharging.
Whenever possible, park in the shade or in a garage. While you can’t always avoid parking in the sun—especially if you leave your car at an airport or trailhead for several days—parking under a tree or using a reflective windshield shade can help keep your cabin and battery cooler.
One big advantage of an EV is that you can pre-cool your cabin before you even unplug the charger. Using your mobile app or in-vehicle settings, set the air conditioning to run while your car is still plugged in. This means the energy needed to lower the cabin temperature comes from the grid, not your battery, preserving more driving range.
Some battery chemistries are more heat-tolerant than others. For example, lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries handle higher temperatures better than nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) variants. If you live in an area with long, hot summers or you plan to leave your EV parked outside often, an LFP battery pack may provide better long-term durability.
It’s worth comparing how an EV’s air conditioning system affects efficiency compared to a traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle.
In a gas car, the engine generates a lot of waste heat. On a hot day, the air conditioner must work against this extra heat to keep the cabin cool, which can put a noticeable drag on fuel economy.
An EV, however, doesn’t produce the same amount of waste heat when running, so its air conditioning system generally works more efficiently. Plus, because the A/C is electrically driven, its performance doesn’t depend on the engine’s speed or load—it works just as well while idling as when driving at highway speeds.
This means your EV can keep you cool without wasting energy just to keep the A/C running.
One overlooked perk of EV ownership is how quickly the cabin reaches a comfortable temperature. There’s no need to wait for an engine to warm up. Cold air is available immediately when you start the A/C, and pre-conditioning while plugged in means your car is ready to go the moment you open the door.
In contrast, with a gas-powered vehicle, you might have to wait a few minutes for the compressor to reach its optimal operating temperature—especially if the car has been sitting in the sun all day.
Summer’s warmth doesn’t have to spell disaster for your EV battery. Today’s vehicles are designed with robust thermal protection systems that keep your battery in a safe operating range. Still, your habits matter too.
By parking smart, maintaining moderate states of charge, and using your vehicle’s built-in pre-conditioning features, you can help your battery stay healthy and extend its lifespan.
The more you know about how heat affects battery chemistry and system efficiency, the more prepared you’ll be to get the best real-world range from your car, even when temperatures soar.
Automakers continue to invest in battery technologies that stand up better to temperature extremes. Innovations like solid-state batteries, advanced liquid cooling, and more heat-tolerant chemistries are all in the pipeline.
In the meantime, being an informed EV owner is the best way to protect your investment. Keep an eye on your battery management system’s alerts, follow best practices for charging and parking, and don’t be afraid to use your car’s A/C—especially if you can pre-cool it while plugged in.
After all, your comfort matters too. EVs are built to handle the heat—smart drivers just help them do it even better.
