EVs in winter — how to preserve your range

Winter is the big test for EV owners in Norway. When temperatures drop below zero, most people notice a significant decrease in range. But why does this happen, and what can you do to minimize the loss? In this guide, we cover everything you need to know to get safely through winter with your EV in 2026.

Why does range drop in winter?

Several factors come into play when range decreases in winter. To understand what you can do about it, it helps to know the causes.

Battery chemistry and cold

Lithium-ion batteries, used in all modern EVs, work by moving ions between electrodes. When the temperature drops, this process slows down. This means the battery cannot deliver energy as efficiently. At minus 10 degrees Celsius, the battery can lose up to 20-30% of its capacity compared to the optimal temperature (around 20-25 degrees).

Cabin heating

While a fossil-fuel car uses waste heat from the engine for heating, an EV must use energy from the battery. Cabin heating is actually one of the biggest energy drains in winter — especially during the first few minutes when the car needs to warm up from ice-cold.

Modern EVs in 2026 increasingly use heat pumps instead of traditional PTC heating elements. A heat pump is up to three times more efficient, but even it uses noticeable energy.

Tyres and road conditions

Winter tyres have higher rolling resistance than summer tyres. In addition, snow, slush, and ice create extra resistance. If you drive with studded tyres on bare asphalt, rolling resistance and energy consumption increase even further.

How to preserve as much range as possible

Now that you know why range drops, let's look at what you can actually do to keep as many kilometres as possible.

1. Pre-heat the car while it's connected to a charger

This is the single most important winter tip for EV owners. Most EVs let you start heating via an app while the car is still connected to the charger. This way you use power from the grid — not from the battery — to heat both the cabin and the battery.

The battery performs best between 20 and 40 degrees. When you pre-heat, you bring the battery into this range, allowing it to deliver energy more efficiently.

2. Use seat and steering wheel heating instead of cabin heat

Seat and steering wheel heaters use a fraction of the energy compared to heating the entire cabin. By lowering the cabin temperature by 2-3 degrees and using seat and steering wheel heating instead, you can save significant energy.

In practice, this means you can set the cabin temperature to 18-19 degrees and compensate with seat heating. You stay just as warm but use considerably less power.

3. Plan your route with shorter intervals

In winter, you should plan charging stops at shorter intervals than in summer. Where you might manage 250 km between each charging stop in summer, you should aim for 150-200 km in winter.

Plan a trip with charging stops→ — use ladr.no's trip planner to find optimal charging stops along your route, adapted for winter conditions.

4. Keep the battery warm

If possible, park the car in a garage. Even an unheated garage can keep the temperature 5-10 degrees above the outside temperature, which makes a big difference for the battery.

Some EVs also have a function to keep the battery warm overnight. This uses some energy but can provide better range and faster charging the next morning.

5. Drive smoothly and calmly

Aggressive driving drains the battery faster regardless of the season, but the effect is amplified in winter. Use eco mode if your car has it, and try to maintain a steady speed. Regenerative braking is also more effective when you drive smoothly.

6. Check tyre pressure regularly

Tyre pressure drops with temperature — approximately 0.1 bar per 10-degree temperature drop. Low tyre pressure increases rolling resistance and energy consumption. Check tyre pressure at least once a month in winter, and inflate to the recommended pressure.

Charging in winter — what you should know

Cold-weather charging is slower than charging in warm weather. When the battery is cold, the management system limits charging power to protect the battery. This means fast charging can take significantly longer.

Find the nearest charging station→ — check the map for available charging stations along your route.

If you charge at home, it's wise to charge overnight while the car has been in the garage for a while, or right after a drive while the battery is still warm.

Practical winter routines for EV owners

Here's a simple checklist for winter driving with an EV:

• The evening before: Connect to charger and set up pre-heating for the next morning's departure.
• Before departure: Check range and plan any charging stops.
• While driving: Use seat and steering wheel heating, maintain steady speed, use eco mode.
• When charging: Let the car use navigation to the charging station so the battery is pre-conditioned.
• When parking: Park in a garage if possible. Connect to charger.

Which EVs handle winter best?

Generally, EVs with heat pumps handle winter better than those without. Most new EVs in 2026 come with a heat pump as standard. Cars with large batteries also have an advantage, simply because they have more energy to draw from.

All-wheel drive can also be an advantage in winter — not just for traction, but because two motors working at lower load can be more efficient than one motor working hard.

Compare charging prices→ — regardless of the season, it pays to find the best charging prices.

Frequently asked questions