EV
EV winter range in Iceland: real numbers from the 2025–26 cold snap
We pulled telemetry from 14 popular EVs through a Reykjavík winter. Here's how much range you actually lose at -8°C — and which models suffer least.
EV winter range in Iceland: real numbers from the 2025–26 cold snap
The November 2025 cold snap dropped Reykjavík to -12°C for nearly two weeks. We collected real-world data from 14 of the most-registered EVs in Iceland — owner-submitted via the autos.is community — and the spread is wider than the brochures suggest.
Average range loss vs WLTP
| Model | WLTP km | Real winter km | Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tesla Model Y LR | 533 | 358 | -33% |
| Kia EV6 77 kWh | 528 | 372 | -30% |
| Hyundai Ioniq 5 77 kWh | 507 | 348 | -31% |
| Volkswagen ID.4 Pro | 522 | 320 | -39% |
| BYD Atto 3 | 420 | 252 | -40% |
| Volvo EX30 Twin | 460 | 295 | -36% |
| Polestar 2 LR | 568 | 380 | -33% |
| Skoda Enyaq 85 | 563 | 372 | -34% |
What's causing the loss
- Cabin heating — the single biggest draw. Heat pumps (Tesla, Kia, Hyundai, Volvo) lose 8–10% less than resistive systems.
- Battery preconditioning — Teslas and EV6s warm the pack before fast-charging, which protects long-term health and recovers ~5% range.
- Studded winter tyres — add another 6–8% rolling resistance over summer rubber.
Practical takeaways
- If your commute is under 60 km round trip, ignore the loss — you'll charge at home anyway.
- Crossing the country in January, plan for 70% of WLTP and one extra stop.
- Cars without a heat pump (older ID.4s, base Ioniq 5s, BYD Atto 3) feel the cold hardest.
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