# EV Batteries vs a Minnesota Winter: Which will Prevail?

- Link: https://greenlivingguy.com/2011/01/ev-batteries-vs-a-minnesota-winter-which-will-prevail/
- Published: 2011-01-28T18:54:00-05:00
- Author: greenlivingguy

We know Minnesotans are hardy stock. However, will their electric cars match their
owners’ mettle? That’s one of the things being tested by the City of St. Paul and
[Drive Electric Minnesota](https://www.driveelectricmn.org/). It’s a collaboration
of businesses, nonprofits and government agencies in the Twin Cities. They’ve teamed
up to build an EV infrastructure and put the [new cars](https://greenlivingguy.com/2023/09/battery-ev-plant-ford-biden-saved-going-overseas/)
and vans through their paces in Minnesota’s harsh climate.

![EV cold weather](https://i0.wp.com/greenlivingguy.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/
03/image14.jpg?resize=199%2C122&quality=52&ssl=1)

## Grants

With help from grants from Xcel Energy and the U.S. Department of Energy. So the
City of St. Paul just took delivery of their first all-electric Ford Transit Connect.
That’s one of eight all-electric vans to arrive in Minnesota thanks to the Drive
Electric Minnesota collaborators.  In addition to Hennepin County (Minnesota) and
the City of Minneapolis. All are slated to receive the next wave of deliveries.

#### **Battery blankets, anyone?**

The projected performance results for the [production](https://greenlivingguy.com/2025/07/ev-battery-recycling-a-renewable-solution-hiding-in-plain-sight/)
EV batteries are based on “average” conditions. As well as the sub-zero temperatures
common during Minnesota winters. Because they certainly don’t qualify as average.

That’s because battery performance decreases in cold weather. Truth that’s it’s 
highly likely that the batteries will need to be charged more frequently. All which
is one of the hypotheses being tested.

#### Fully Charged EV

A fully charged EV that typically goes 100 miles on a charge. However it may only
go 60 miles if the weather is extremely cold. Sounds to me like a very good thing
to know before you go.

Then to counter the cold, many of the EV manufacturers are building in battery warmers.
All to increase battery performance in climates like Minnesota’s.

#### **Enhancing the infrastructure**

In addition to testing how well the batteries handle the cold, Xcel Energy will 
be closely monitoring the effects of EVs on its electrical system. They want to 
be ahead of the curve in understanding how EV use affects the grid. They’ll be working
with the National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL) to understand typical customer behavior
and vehicle performance.

Drive Electric Minnesota is also collaborating on the installation of approximately
30 charging stations. That’s throughout the Twin Cities metro area. The stations
are rated for use down to 22 degrees below zero. At least four are solar powered.
Also all 30 will be available to the public on parking ramps. As well as surface
lots and on-street locations. Many of the charging stations will be located in the
Energy Innovation Corridor. That’s adjacent to the light rail line connecting Saint
Paul and Minneapolis.

### Conclusion

In conclusion and now Minnesotans and other people who are not weather wimps. Meaning
like I am should stay tuned for the test results. Based on that Minnesota mettle
I’ve seen, I’d say the EV batteries have the advantage.

#### Source: Xcel Energy