ADAC 2026 Winter Test: EVs Lose Up to 50% Range in Cold
Electric vehicle (EV) owners often worry about how freezing temperatures affect their car’s battery. A new “Winter Stress Test” conducted by ADAC provides clear answers on which models hold up best when the mercury drops.
In the latest winter challenge for electric cars, Europe’s largest automobile club tested 14 family-oriented EVs to see how far they really go in cold weather and highway conditions.
The Impact of Freezing Temperatures
Cold weather forces EV batteries to work harder. They must heat the cabin while maintaining optimal battery temperature, which significantly drains energy. According to the insideEVs , some popular models lost nearly half of their advertised range when tested in sub-zero conditions.
How the Test Worked
ADAC set up a simulated route based on a real 582 km highway journey from Munich to Berlin.
All vehicles started fully charged, with cabin heating on, and drove at ~111 km/h until the battery forced a stop.
Charging was capped at 20 minutes per stop, reflecting busy fast-charging behavior on real trips.
Top Performers and Major Losses
The results showed that while luxury models like the BMW i5 and Lucid Air handled the cold relatively well, others struggled. Efficiency plummeted across the board, with range losses ranging from 25% to over 50%.
Next best was the Tesla Model Y, known for efficient consumption, though it needed more than one charge stop.
Mid-pack performers like the Volkswagen ID.7 Tourer and Hyundai Ioniq 5 showed respectable range but required two stops.
The BYD Sealion 7 and Volvo EX90 struggled most, with heavy consumption and lower real-world range.
| Rank | Model | Real-world energy efficiency (kWh/100 km) | Real-world range (km) | Range added after 20-min charge (km) |
| 1 | Audi A6 E-Tron Performance | 23.2 | 441 | 99.5 |
| 2 | Tesla Model Y AWD | 22.2 | 406 | 94.2 |
| 3 | Volkswagen ID.7 Tourer Pro | 23.3 | 360 | 103.2 |
| 4 | Smart #5 | 28.9 | 361 | 264.3 |
| 5 | Polestar 4 Long Range | 27.2 | 369 | 199.4 |
| 6 | Hyundai Ioniq 5 84 kWh RWD | 27.1 | 325 | 230.8 |
| 7 | BMW i5 Touring eDrive40 | 25.6 | 351 | 184 |
| 8 | Kia EV6 84 kWh RWD | 28.2 | 311 | 222 |
| 9 | Porsche Macan | 28.9 | 332 | 214.1 |
| 10 | Skoda Elroq 85 | 25.5 | 315 | 167.2 |
| 11 | Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV 350+ | 30.3 | 331 | 184.7 |
| 12 | Opel Grandland Electric 97 kWh | 27.5 | 332 | 153.3 |
| 13 | Volvo EX90 Twin Motor | 31.6 | 360 | 175.3 |
| 14 | BYD Sealion 7 AWD | 35.3 | 293 | 160.6 |
What This Means for Pakistan
As Pakistan pushes for electric mobility, these findings are crucial. While most of Pakistan experiences mild winters, northern regions like Gilgit-Baltistan and Swat face extreme cold.
Local buyers must consider that an EV’s range in Lahore or Karachi will differ greatly from its performance on a winter trip to the mountains.
Furthermore, the lack of widespread fast-charging infrastructure in colder regions could make these range drops a significant challenge for Pakistani travelers.
