AAA Study Quantifies Temperature Impacts on EV and Hybrid Performance

AAA’s May 1 2026 study tested three EVs and three hybrids on a chassis dynamometer at 20 °F, 75 °F and 95 °F, with HVAC at 72 °F. Vehicles were secured on 4-ft rollers and run until the battery could no longer sustain speed. Hot weather cut EV range 8.5 % and MPGe 10.4 %; hybrids lost 12 % fuel-economy. Cold weather reduced EV range 39 % and MPGe 35.6 %; hybrids lost 22.8 % fuel-economy. Using March 27 2026 energy prices, EV operating costs rose $32.11 per 1,000 mi with home charging and $76.93 with public charging in the cold; hybrids’ fuel cost rose $28.44 per 1,000 mi. Heat added $6.78 (home) and $16.25 to EV costs and $13.02 to hybrid fuel costs.

AAA Study Reveals Temperature Impacts on EV and Hybrid Efficiencies and Costs – AAA Newsroom

Greg Brannon, AAA’s director of automotive engineering, said EVs are efficient in moderate temperatures but lose range in cold conditions, and that pre-conditioning can shift climate-control energy to the grid. AutoPacific analyst Ed Kim noted winter-range concerns limit EV uptake in colder U.S. states. The EPA estimates a 10 %–30 % drop in gasoline-vehicle fuel economy in cold weather, indicating the issue is not exclusive to EVs.

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Kim warned that some range-loss fears are “misinformation-fueled myths,” yet a consumer survey shows 35 % of U.S. adults favor hybrids for perceived range security. Public-charging rates up to $77 per 1,000 mi in cold conditions are a barrier to full EV adoption.

AAA Study Reveals Temperature Impacts on EV and Hybrid Efficiencies and Costs – AAA Newsroom

Temperature-dependent performance and cost shifts affect consumer adoption, utility load forecasting, and policy incentives for electrified vehicles.

Temperature extremes affect EV operating costs, study finds

AAA names its director as Greg Bannon, while later releases use Greg Brannon. AAA reports a 39 % cold-weather EV range loss; ConsumerAffairs cites 12 % loss without heater and up to 41 % with heater. Hot-weather loss is listed as 8.5 % by AAA but 4 % (no AC) and 17 % (with AC) by ConsumerAffairs. Laboratory tests omit real-world factors such as wind, traffic and terrain.

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• “the electric vehicles actually didn't change all that much from back in 2019.” — Greg Bannon, AAA director of automotive engineering

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• “For lack of a better term, I guess it's kind of like a treadmill for a car,” — Megan McKernan, research-center manager, AAA

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• “EVs are efficient in moderate temperatures but lose significant range in the cold,” — Greg Brannon, AAA director of automotive engineering

AAA Study Reveals Temperature Impacts on EV and Hybrid Efficiencies and Costs – AAA Newsroom

• “This isn't a problem that's exclusive to EVs. This happens to basically any kind of vehicle when it gets really cold.” — Ed Kim, chief analyst, AutoPacific

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AAA advises pre-conditioning while plugged in, tire inflation and moderate speeds in extreme weather. It will update the “Your Driving Costs” calculator with regional climate data and expand testing to more models in 2027.

Temperature extremes affect EV operating costs, study finds