While I’m a fan of templates, I understand that for a lot of people, they may not be completely practical yet. At the same time, some of the antipathy toward electric vehicles may be unwarranted. This is especially true when it comes to something like an electric truck. Sure, it might not be ideal in the States, but what if you thought a battery-powered truck couldn’t handle a blizzard? We have some real-world tests to answer this question.
How do electric trucks work in cold weather?
Unfortunately, it is not possible to get around the fact that cold weather can affect electricity in the United States. Once the temperature drops below a certain number, the degree of discharge can drop, and it may take longer to charge the battery. Range could be another thing that is affected, but things like a heat pump can help with that.
, recently took two EV vans to see how they handle cold weather. The test is set up to show how the Ford F-150 Lightning can survive a blizzard. The kind where you might find yourself stuck on the side of the road.
Being caught in a blizzard is no joke. Especially if you are on a highway or in a situation where you cannot drive for cover. Therefore, I find this to be a valuable test for people who might be interested in a new electric truck.
Both cars involved were charged to 85%, then the heaters were left on for twelve hours while it was snowing outside. And I will be honest. I found the results somewhat surprising. When all was said and done, the F-150 Lightning was on 71% charge, and the R1T finished at 66%.
Trucks weren’t traveling during this period, so that’s probably one reason why there wasn’t a huge hit to shipping. But since it has a larger cabin, I thought it would have held less cargo.
When it came to recharging the trucks, the F-150 needed 20kWh to hit 85%, while the Rivian R1T needed 23.6kWh. But, even without heat pumps, these EVs can last for a very long time while on the roadside in cold weather.
Is an electric truck worth it?
As it is, supply and charging infrastructure seem to be two of the biggest factors that play into getting an electric truck. For starters, it’s almost impossible to find one at a dealership right now.
Then there is the public freight network. As it is, you won’t have problems finding a gas station in most areas of the United States. But a public charging station that works may be a different story. The Biden administration is working to fix that, but it doesn’t appear to be there yet.
And with things like winter weather reducing the range of EVs, this is definitely something to consider.
