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AAA: Cold Cuts EV Range 39%, Norway Near 100% EVs

5/2/2026

23 3 Full Breakdown

Summary

AAA Reports RangeLoss

AAA found hot weather cuts EV range 8.5% and cold weather about 39% in controlled tests.
The study used a chassis dynamometer in a chamber set between 20 °F and 95 °F.
AAA measured a 23% hybrid loss at 20 °F, matching EPA’s 10-30% loss estimate for gasoline cars.
Norway hit 98% pure-battery EV adoption in March 2026, prompting AAA to advise pre-conditioning, seat heaters, tire pressure and planned charging to mitigate range loss.

Summary

AAA Finds Hybrid

AAA's March 19-23, 2026 survey of 1,088 adults (±4% margin, 95% confidence) found 35% likely to buy a hybrid, outpacing fully electric interest.
Public charging stations have risen from about 55,000 in 2022 to roughly 80,000 today.
At 20°F EVs cost $36.19 less per 1,000 miles with home electricity but $86.26 more at public stations versus hybrids, while at 95°F they are $46.11 cheaper with home charging yet $41.00 more expensive at chargers.

History

Historical Context

The 2013 DOE cold-weather test that cut the Chevrolet Volt’s electric range by 30 % (12 mi of its 38-mi rating) was conducted during the nation’s 34th-coldest Dec-Feb period, when 91 % of the Great Lakes were iced over after a polar-vortex collapse. A 2026 AAA study repeats the loss pattern, prompting manufacturers and policymakers to add pre-conditioning and expand charging networks.

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AAA Reports RangeLoss

AAA found hot weather cuts EV range 8.5% and cold weather about 39% in controlled tests.
The study used a chassis dynamometer in a chamber set between 20 °F and 95 °F.
AAA measured a 23% hybrid loss at 20 °F, matching EPA’s 10-30% loss estimate for gasoline cars.
Norway hit 98% pure-battery EV adoption in March 2026, prompting AAA to advise pre-conditioning, seat heaters, tire pressure and planned charging to mitigate range loss.

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