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EV range map of the United States

Lasse Lumiaho

Yearly median EV range per state

Vaisala
Press release
March 18, 2025

Not just temperature – New report shows exactly how weather affects EV range in the United States

While the effect of cold temperatures on electric vehicle (EV) range is well established, the overall effect of weather on mileage has until now largely remained a mystery. This weather & EV range report from Vaisala Xweather shows how altitude makes EVs fly, how snow and rain hit battery output, and even how using in-car climate control drops range in the summer. And surprisingly, California, the state with the highest EV adoption in the U.S., does not actually have the best conditions for long-range driving.

Vaisala, a global leader in measurement technology, published its weather & EV range report today. Based on the Xweather EV range dataset for North America, the report gives a complete view of weather's impact on electric vehicle performance in the United States, throughout the year. The data shows a clear temperature trend, where states that experience cold temperatures, such as the New England states and the Midwest, experience a shorter range than sunny states like Arizona, Florida, and Texas.

Arizona had the most favorable driving conditions in the past 12 months, followed by Florida and Texas. On the flip side, Maine, Vermont, and New Hampshire in New England experience the biggest drop in range on a 12-month median. The report shows how weather impacts EV range in every state, for each month of the year.

The top report highlights:

• The highs and the lows: The best time and place to drive an EV in the past 12 months was August 4, 2024, in New Mexico. With warm weather and little wind, the state’s average elevation of 4,700 feet caused lower drag from lower air density, which saw the average EV range soar to 18% above the median. The worst range performance was seen in North Dakota on January 20, 2025, where extreme cold saw the median range drop 59%, 77% below New Mexico’s high point. Incidentally, North Dakota has one of the lowest EV adoption rates in the United States.

• Hot, but not too hot: Generally, EV batteries perform better in warm weather, largely due to the lower air density compared to cold air. However, when temperatures soar too high, the battery performance benefits drop because drivers have to use power to cool down the battery and cabin. California, the state with the highest EV adoption rate in the U.S., saw significant drops in range during the summer months of 2024 due to very hot weather and wind, counteracting the expected range boost from lower air density.

• Politics trumps power output: While there is a clear preference for electric cars in warmer states, EV adoption does not follow range conditions as clearly as one would expect. For example, EV adoption in colder, lower altitude states with significant wind, like Washington and Oregon, is high compared to states with optimal EV driving conditions, such as Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. EV adoption seems to follow the electoral map more than the driving conditions, according to the data in the report.

• Extreme weather: Winter storm Enzo in January 2025 led to a significant EV range drop in Florida, normally a top state for EV performance in winter. A rare cold snap, combined with historic snow, ice, and lower temperatures, increased energy demand and rolling resistance, reducing the EV range in Florida to 15% below the median.

• Sudden snow caused chaos: Arkansas saw one of the biggest drops in EV range this past winter, due to a heavy snowfall on January 10, 2025. Rolling resistance for EVs in the deep snow was increased by 300%, leading to EV range dropping as much as 40% below the median.