CAA puts electric vehicles to the test in Canadian winter

CAA's Electric Vehicle Winter Drive Test, saw 14 EV models travel from downtown Ottawa to Mont-Tremblant's village, testing real-world battery range, charging efficiency, and overall performance in snow, ice, and freezing temperatures. (Dave Charbonneau/CTV News Ottawa)

The Canadian Automobile Association (CAA) has conducted one of Canada’s first large-scale winter road tests of electric vehicles (EVs), to assess performance in extreme cold.

The Electric Vehicle Winter Drive Test, saw 14 EV models travel from downtown Ottawa to Mont-Tremblant’s village, testing real-world battery range, charging efficiency, and overall performance in snow, ice, and freezing temperatures.

Vehicles were grouped by range and driven on highways, rural roads, and mountainous terrain to evaluate how winter conditions impact their capabilities.

Range anxiety remains a top concern

CAA’s test follows after a survey of more than 16,000 EV owners, which found that while the majority (87 per cent) would buy another electric vehicle, 70 per cent are not satisfied with the availability of fast-charging stations, especially in rural areas. More than half (53 per cent) prefer a gas-powered vehicle for long trips in extreme cold.

“What we wanted to get to is the root of what it’s like to drive an EV until its battery goes to zero and how long it will drive afterwards,” says CAA’s Julie Beun. “When manufacturers give you a range on an electric vehicle, it’s typically based in ideal conditions. The test we’re doing here can really send a message to government about setting benchmarks that consumers can actually look at and trust.”

The test aims to provide independent data on how much battery range is lost in freezing temperatures and how efficiently EVs recharge in the cold.

Testing real-world performance

Vehicles in the trial included popular models like the Tesla Model 3, Ford F-150 Lightning, Kia EV9, and Chevrolet Equinox EV.

Drivers pushed each vehicle to its limits, monitoring energy consumption, braking regeneration, and the impact of cold weather on range. At planned stops, and along the way, batteries were measured for remaining charge before continuing the journey.

One of the key challenges was making the 355-kilometre trip on a single charge. EV expert Alan Downward of Plug’n Drive, a nonprofit accelerating EV awareness, took part in test and was driving a 2025 Kia EV6. After a full charge to 100 percent, the trips computer reported a range of 366 km. Downward, skeptical, suspects the colder temperature will decrease its range capacity by more than 50 km.

“Just like any new innovation there’s always room to grow,” he says. “We’re currently in a new wave of electric vehicles where the range is amazing. We are seeing at least 400 kilometres of range for basically every new EV on the market. And that’s only going to keep getting better, as infrastructure, as is basically anything to do with electric vehicles. Over time, new innovations like EV’s have gotten stronger and stronger and more feasible for Canadians.”

Results Coming Soon

As EV adoption rises, now making up more than 10 per cent of new vehicle registrations, CAA hopes this test will provide valuable insights for consumers and policymakers.

Final results, including full range loss data and performance comparisons between EV models, will be published on Friday.