As electric vehicles (EV) continue to gain popularity, many in North America have to ask: Can an EV charger be installed outdoors in climates that reach subzero temperatures? And how do electric cars work in cold climates?
Installing an EV Charger Outdoors in Cold Climates
While homeowners may want to install their EV charger outdoors or in an uninsulated garage where cold weather can affect it, for many commercial uses, the EV charger can only be installed outside in a parking lot or beside a building. For those living in colder climates, EV charging stations can still be installed outside, but there are a few things to note: in particular, is the charger youâre considering NEMA 4-rated?
What Is a NEMA Rating and What Is it For?
NEMAâthe National Electric Manufacturers Associationâwas formed in 1926 to set standards for companies that produce electrical products, equipment and wiring. These standards were developed to help consumers better understand their products.
Today, a NEMA Enclosure rating is âa standard rating system that defines the types of environments in which an electrical enclosure can be used, and frequently signifies a fixed enclosureâs ability to withstand certain environmental conditions.â
A NEMA 4-rated productâsuch as EvoChargeâs EVSE, iEVSE and iEVSE Plus chargersâfulfills the following criteria:
- Provides a degree of protection to personnel against access to hazardous parts, whether used indoors or outdoors
- Provides a degree of protection for the internal equipment against solid foreign objects, like dirt and windblown dust
- Provides a degree of protection for the internal equipment against the harmful effects of rain, sleet, snow, splashing water, and hose-directed water
- Offers protection against external formation of ice on the enclosure
A NEMA 4-rated product is enclosed in such a way that the internal parts of the productâin this case, an EV chargerâare protected from the elements and able to work normally from -22â to 122â (-30â to 50â). Exposure to extreme temperatures outside of this range may decrease the functionality of the product.
How Do Electric Cars Perform in Cold Weather?
While a NEMA 4-rated EV charger can withstand cold climates, how do electric cars perform in cold weather? The truth is, no vehicleâwhether electric or gasâruns at peak performance when temperatures fall below freezing. Because an electric vehicle runs on lithium batteries which can be negatively affected by cold weather and additional energy-draining accessories such as the carâs heater is in use, studies show that the average operating range will see a drop of around 40 percent.
This doesnât mean an electric vehicle canât or shouldnât be used in cold weather. Just like standard vehicle owners need to be more aware of the gas gauge in freezing temperatures, EV owners should be aware of how much electricity theyâre using on average and when they should charge up.
There are other ways to mitigate the situation as well. EV owners can decrease their use of the standard heater by dressing warmly, letting the car warm up before getting in by starting it up while it was still charged, and using seat warmers instead. AAA found that electric vehicles only lost an average of 12 percent of range when the heater wasnât used compared to the 40 percent drop with heater use.
Charging Electric Cars in Cold Weather
For commercial entities looking to install EV chargers on their property, living in cold weather can be an advantage. Because EV owners are more aware of their range and where to find a charger along their daily commute, installing an EV charger will make your business, multi-unit dwelling or location more attractive.
Luckily for you, all of EvoChargeâs EVSE stations and accessories are NEMA 4-rated, so you can rest assured that theyâll be able to withstand extreme temperatures.
For more information about EvoChargeâs EVSE charging stations and accessories, or to purchase for your commercial location, check out our Commercial EV Charging Stations page.