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How Long Can an EV Stay Warm if Stranded in Freezing Temps?

Volkswagen wanted to find out how long its ID.4 Pro S electric vehicle could keep you warm inside the cabin if you found yourself stranded on the road during a winter storm.

March 1, 2022
How Long Can an EV Stay Warm if Stranded in Freezing Temps?

If a driver starts with a fully charged battery and an outdoor temperature of 20 degrees Fahrenheit, Volkswagen’s ID.4 HVAC could keep a cabin temperature of 72 degrees Fahrenheit for up to 41 hours while parked.

Photo: Volkswagen of America

1 min to read


What happens if you get stranded in an electric vehicle in the cold? Volkswagen wanted to find out how long its ID.4 Pro S electric vehicle could keep you warm if you found yourself stranded on the road during a winter storm.

To find out, Volkswagen put its 2021 ID.4 Pro S (with an 82-kWh battery) to the test.

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For the test, Volkswagen parked its EV vehicle for three hours with an initial cabin temperature of 55 degrees Fahrenheit (to simulate a car that’s already been driving), an outdoor temperature of 20 degrees Fahrenheit, and climate control set at 72 degrees Fahrenheit. Only the driver’s seat was occupied with the seat-heater at level 1.

During the three hours, Volkswagen measured the battery voltage and current consumed. Then the company calculated the energy consumption from the voltage and current values.

If a driver starts with a fully charged battery and an outdoor temperature of 20 degrees Fahrenheit, the ID.4 HVAC could keep a cabin temperature of 72 degrees Fahrenheit for up to 41 hours while parked, according to Volkswagen.

Real-world conditions like temperature, state of charge, and battery age could affect how long an EV can maintain a warm cabin, added Volkswagen.

The brand says that the ID.4 Pro has an EPA-estimated 280 miles of range, an increase of 20 miles from the 2021 model.  

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