How does cold weather affect range for electric trucks?

Winter is tough, and not just for people. Every year, sudden temperature drops and heavy snowfall create significant obstacles for the logistics industry.

To make matters worse, winter brings a significant surge in online shopping. From major sales events to increased demand for gifts and essentials, the extra strain on the logistics industry in winter represents a real hurdle.

Add snow, ice and freezing temperatures to the mix and what you get is a long list of hurdles trucks have to navigate to meet the tight delivery deadlines. Especially electric ones.

But why do e-truck batteries struggle so much in the cold?

Coldplay

Harsh conditions in winter often lead to road closures and slower delivery times for any truck, but what makes it especially challenging for electric ones is that they rely on batteries to run.

Low temperatures significantly reduce battery efficiency and range. And reduced battery efficiency results in a shorter driving range and the need for more frequent charging. This makes it more difficult for electric trucks to complete the long-haul deliveries they are keen to complete swiftly.

In fact, frosty weather is one of the most significant factors that influence the driving range of an electric truck on a single charge.

Running low

To understand how the cold affects electric truck batteries, we first have to understand how they work.

Electric trucks are mostly powered by lithium-ion batteries which rely on chemical reactions to store and deliver energy. These batteries power not only the drivetrain but also essential systems such as heating, cooling, lighting and onboard electronics, all critical for vehicle operation and driver comfort.

Cold weather can slow these reactions, reducing the battery’s capacity by up to 40% in extreme conditions. And it gets worse.

Snow and ice buildup on the vehicle can also impact performance, making careful planning essential for fleet owners. As the temperature drops, the battery works harder to perform basic tasks, reducing the truck’s range and increasing recharge times.

Longer charges mean less time on the road, and when it comes to deliveries, there is no time to lose.

The cost of comfort

Unlike traditional vehicles, electric trucks can’t use engine heat to warm the cabin. Instead, heaters and defrosters pull energy from the battery, further draining its power.

This adds yet another strain to electric truck batteries when operating in freezing weather.

And then there's winter equipment. Truckers often need to use more energy-consuming tools and equipment in the winter months. For example, snow chains and plows require extra power to operate, which can further reduce battery range.

As a result, drivers have to be more mindful about how they manage energy usage to make sure they have enough charge to complete routes.

Left out in the cold

When an electric truck battery is exposed to extremely cold weather conditions, faster draining also means that these vehicles have a higher need for easy access to charging stations.

With shorter driving ranges in the winter, drivers need reliable charging infrastructure on the routes they can reach before they run out of power.

Using advanced location technology allows drivers to easily locate charging stations along major highways and trucking routes, ensuring smoother and more efficient journeys for electric trucks, even in cold weather conditions.

Locating solutions

HERE Fleet Routing solutions are a great example of services designed to address key challenges electric trucks face such as range anxiety and route efficiency. It enables fleet managers to optimize trip planning by factoring in charging station locations, vehicle battery levels and traffic conditions.

This ensures that electric trucks can maintain consistent operations while minimizing energy consumption and idle time. By leveraging such technology, fleets can achieve greater sustainability and operational efficiency, aligning with the growing shift toward electrification in logistics and long-haul transportation.

Powering through

While winter poses unique challenges for electric trucks, advancements in technology and careful planning can help mitigate these issues and make them a viable option for all-season transportation.

And although managing electric truck fleets in winter requires extra planning, their benefits—like zero emissions and lower running costs—make them worth it.

With the right technology and preparation, electric trucks can remain a sustainable and reliable option year-round.