An EV can handle a ski day easily, but cold, climbing and a roof box all eat range at once. Plan for less than the sticker number.
How much range you lose
- Cold: AAA testing at 20°F found range dropped about 41% with the heater running.
- The climb: going up thousands of feet uses extra energy. You get some back coming down.
- Roof boxes and racks: added drag at highway speed.
- Parking all day: a cold-soaked battery uses energy to warm back up.
A safe planning number for a ski day: expect 30 to 50% less than rated range.
Charge smart
- Charge fully in the last town before the climb. The Gas & EV tab on each resort shows chargers on the way and at the mountain.
- Precondition the cabin and battery while still plugged in.
- Use seat and steering-wheel heat; they use far less energy than cabin heat.
- Park in a garage overnight if you can.
Don’t forget the small battery
EVs also have a 12-volt battery that runs the electronics. If it dies in the cold, the car may not start even with a full main battery. A compact jump starter kept in the cabin fixes it in a minute.
Check before you go
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Sources: AAA: Icy temps kill EV range. Rules change; always follow posted signs and road crews.