17:27 06-12-2025

How heat pumps help EVs keep their range in winter

Winter range loss in electric cars remains a pressing issue for owners and anyone weighing their next purchase. According to Recurrent, in freezing conditions today’s models retain about 78% of their rated range. Around the freezing point, some EVs give up as much as 20% of real-world distance, and the spread between models is notable: the strongest hold on to up to 88%, while the weakest sit around 69%.

Specialists single out the heat pump as the component that most strongly shapes cold-weather efficiency. By drawing warmth from outside air to heat the cabin, it eases the demand on the battery. That preserves energy and tames winter range losses. In practice, those percentages are the difference between a relaxed commute and a range calculation you have to watch.

Carmakers are fitting heat pumps more widely to new EVs. The roster of models with this system includes recent generations of the Audi e-tron, the BMW i4, iX and i7, Teslas since 2021, as well as many electric models from Hyundai, Kia, Genesis and others. For buyers in colder regions, that makes the option feel less like a luxury and more like essential equipment.

For comparison, early versions of some models, including the Tesla Model 3 without a heat pump, showed substantial range losses in winter. Researchers expect the bite of cold to soften as battery chemistry and heating systems evolve, but for now the presence of a heat pump remains one of the key determinants of an EV’s efficiency in low temperatures.