Ch it’s been said that electric cars lose mileage when it’s cold. There are many different results because a lot depends on the weather conditions and how the tests are conducted.
A group of about 100 Chinese experts have decided and have already done the largest and most ambitious EV test in cold weather, reports InsideEVs. They collected 67 of the most popular electrics and hybrids (including quite a few Chinese models) and drove them to Yakeshi, Inner Mongolia.
There, the automotive industry regularly tests cars in winter conditions, and very harsh ones at that. For context, as of December 30, 2025, the temperature there is a modest -25 degrees Celsius, dropping below -30 degrees Celsius at night.
So, tests there have included mileage, charging speed, as well as numerous checks on security systems, handling slippery terrain, and more. The benchmarks were the Tesla Model Y, Model YL and Model 3, long the most popular electric models.
As expected, the extremely low temperatures have “shrunk” the mileage of all models. For most, the loss was more than 50% compared to the factory declared mileage under normal conditions. In addition, the real-world test always produces lower results than the CLTC ratings, which are already considered quite optimistic.
In addition, the conditions are more difficult. Cars are driven at speeds between 70 km/h and 80 km/h, which are the most common in China. And they are driven on snow and ice, which makes the car even more difficult.
So, the results. Thanks to their more aerodynamic shape, sedans handle better. The best result is Xpeng P7 keeping 53.9% of its mileage, i.e. he traveled 366.7 km.
In second place is Yangwang U7 with 51.8% of its mileage, followed by Zeekr 001 with 49.6%. The Tesla Model 3 and Nissan N7 are in the top five with 48% and 47.4% respectively. In last place is the Mercedes-Benz CLA with 37%.
Another test was made – energy consumption per 100 km. Here, small and cheaper EVs fare better than large and heavy SUVs. BYD Seagull and Geely Xingyuan consume 23.5 kWh per 100 km.
All this suggests something else. Chinese EVs already seem to be outpacing the rest in terms of battery quality and endurance in harsh conditions as well. And this is another indicator that these cars are not to be underestimated by the others.
