The range of your BMW electric vehicle is reduced at low temperatures for a few key reasons:
- Heating the Interior: In colder climates, it requires additional energy to heat the interior of the vehicle to a comfortable temperature. This extra energy draw from the battery reduces the available energy for propulsion, thereby decreasing the overall driving range.
- Heating the Battery: The battery pack in an electric vehicle also needs to be kept at an optimal temperature for efficient operation. At low outside temperatures, additional energy is required to heat the battery, which further reduces the energy available for driving.
To ensure the full battery capacity is available for your journey in cold weather, BMW recommends:
Preconditioning the Vehicle: Via the My BMW App before departing, precondition your BMW electric vehicle while using a Flexible Fast Charger, a Wallbox, or a charging station. Preconditioning will allow the vehicle to heat the battery and interior to the optimal temperature, so the full battery capacity is available for driving. By preconditioning the vehicle, you can maximize the available battery capacity and minimize the energy consumption, thereby optimizing the driving range in low-temperature conditions.
Link to watch BMW How-to video: How to Precondition and Manage Charging
