AMARILLO, Texas (KFDA) – Recent extreme temperatures in the Panhandle have caused several issues for those with electric vehicles.
“So, in battery electric vehicles, fully electric vehicles, the Lithium-ion batteries in them are designed to perform ideally in 68 to 86 degrees,” said Street Toyota General Manager Cory Dupriest.
With temperatures exceeding 100 degrees, electric vehicle owners may see a 30% decrease in battery power.
“When we have these extreme temperatures that we’re seeing lately, it will affect the range of the batteries by about 30%. You’ll lose about 30% of your ranger, and it affects the battery life also,” said Dupriest.
According to Dupriest, using a Supercharger can further decrease battery power and life. He recommends that owners charge their batteries overnight.
Street Toyota says hybrid vehicles tend to hold up better than electric vehicles in extreme temperatures.
“Hybrid is an internal combustion engine and electric motor with batteries,” said Dupreist. “Which makes better in extreme heat or extreme cold because the internal combustion engine helps disperse the heat from around the batteries.”
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