Despite most EVs on the market offering a range well over 200 miles, suitable for daily use, the prospect of being stuck in traffic raises concerns about battery consumption by the air conditioning, radio, and other features, and how this affects the vehicle's range.
In 2021, The consumer publication Which? conducted an experiment to measure the impact of these features on battery life and whether it's a cause for concern.
In their test, they parked a Volkswagen ID.4 for over an hour, and simulated a traffic jam scenario. The team streamed music via Android Auto, activated both front heated seats to the maximum, turned on the air conditioning, set the headlights to dipped beam, and charged a tablet via USB to play a movie.
The results were reassuring: the Volkswagen only used two percent of its battery after an hour and 15 minutes, translating to a mere eight miles of range loss.
However, it's important to note that the test occurred on a warm summer day. Battery efficiency is known to decrease in colder conditions, which can reduce an EV's range during winter. Many EVs are now equipped with heat pumps as a standard feature, while others offer them as an optional extra. The addition of a heat pump contributes to improved energy efficiency and range of an EV.
The takeaway from this study is that as long as your EV has a sufficient charge, using climate control and entertainment features in traffic shouldn't be a worry.
Running low on charge?
If you begin to run low on charge, your electric vehicle (EV) will provide ample warning as the battery depletes, alerting you to the need for a charger. In the event of complete battery drain, the EV will enter 'limp mode' before shutting down, allowing you to safely pull over and call for assistance.
Many EVs display a yellow / orange tortoise icon on the dashboard to signal a shift into restricted power mode, which turns red when the drive system is about to deactivate due to critically low battery levels.
Once the indicator is red, the car's speed will be limited to approximately 4mph, and you'll be able to start the car only twice if it has been deactivated.
Therefore, even though a traffic jam might not drain the battery as some believe, it's crucial to monitor your car's remaining state of charge (SOC) and aim to reach a charging station with a substantial amount of charge left, just to be safe.