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EV drivers often worry about sudden drops in range. Most of the time, this is normal and caused by temperature, software, or driving style. You can avoid most surprises with a few simple habits and the right tools.
According to our data from 30,000+ vehicles, there are several common causes for unexpected range loss:
- temperature changes
- software or BMS
- driving behavior
- battery failure (in rare but documented circumstances)
Temperature Changes:
Cold weather in particular can reduce effective driving range by up to 30%, since batteries operate less efficiently and cabin heating draws extra power.
Software Updates or Recalibration:
Another frequent trigger is a change in the battery management system (BMS) software following manufacturer updates—so seeing your estimated range suddenly change after an OTA (over-the-air) update can reflect a more accurate, not worse, calculation of remaining charge.
Similarly, if you follow best practices and keep your charge between 20% and 80%, your range may drop because the BMS needs to be recalibrated. You can do this by charging your car to 100% and letting it sit for a few hours. This is particularly true in cars with LFP batteries.
Driving Behavior:
Fast acceleration, highway driving, or driving uphill are all energy intensive drive styles. If you don’t usually drive this way, doing so may cause a temporary drop in range.
Battery Failure:
Battery failure means that there is something wrong with your battery apart from normal age-related degradation. Based on our 30,000 drivers, this is very rare. If you have ruled out other causes of sudden range loss, a range health report from Recurrent or your EV dealership can help diagnose deeper issues.
To minimize range surprises:
- Precondition your car before hitting the road if it’s very cold or very hot. Bring your car to a comfortable temp while it’s plugged in
- Keep tires fully inflated
- Regularly check for software updates
- Consider calibrating your BMS 1-2 times a year if you otherwise don’t charge to 100%
Read More:
- https://www.recurrentauto.com/research/ev-range-changes
- https://www.recurrentauto.com/research/ev-range-in-cold-weather
- https://www.recurrentauto.com/research/why-does-my-range-change
- https://www.recurrentauto.com/research/do-i-need-to-charge-my-car-to-100
