Are EVs a good choice for hot South Florida?

Hello everyone… I’m thinking about getting an electric vehicle next year since I currently drive a gas car and live in hot South Florida. I’m curious if the heat impacts battery life… is it really a problem? I’ve heard that cold weather is worse.

Cold does limit range but doesn’t harm battery health. Heat can negatively affect battery health though good EVs have overheat protection.

Kaius said:
Cold does limit range but doesn’t harm battery health. Heat can negatively affect battery health though good EVs have overheat protection.

That’s great to know… Thanks! I’m looking at getting a Kia EV6.

@Flynt
Awesome pick! It’s an amazing car, I really enjoyed driving it.

@Flynt
I love my EV6. Hyundai and Kia are really doing well.

@Flynt
The Kia EV6, similar to the Ioniq 5, may use extra energy to cool the battery if the outside temp exceeds 100F. That’s why I notice less range in hot Las Vegas compared to coastal California. You can check this in the Battery Care section of the energy consumption menu. But this might not be an issue since I doubt South Florida gets that hot.

@Flynt
Meh

Kaius said:
Cold does limit range but doesn’t harm battery health. Heat can negatively affect battery health though good EVs have overheat protection.

Basically, the only EV without overheat protection is the Nissan Leaf.

@Kip
It’s surprising that the 2025 Leaf still has CHAdeMO and lacks features that other EVs in the same price range have. At least we finally have the Aryia.

You’ll be alright… Every car except the Nissan Leaf has heat management, which hardly uses power and protects the battery. Plus, there are a good number of charging stations around.

Tobin said:
You’ll be alright… Every car except the Nissan Leaf has heat management, which hardly uses power and protects the battery. Plus, there are a good number of charging stations around.

That’s true for new cars… But some older ones still lack good battery management.

@Milan
New is a bit subjective… The 2012 Model S has battery management. Almost every electric car on the road has good battery management for temperatures up to 127F, which is the hottest my cabin reached here in SWFL. If my 2017 Model S manages fine, I don’t see why any other car this person might choose wouldn’t.

@Tobin
I meant ‘basically’… I’m pretty sure the e-Golf is also air-cooled, and there might be other older models still available. By ‘new,’ I mean that if you buy a brand-new car in the US that’s not a Leaf, it usually has good battery management. That doesn’t mean older cars don’t have it, but there are still some non-Leaf used EVs that don’t.

Your range might be impacted indirectly… The car may need to use its cooling system for the battery more frequently, but the biggest factor will be using your AC more. Charging at home makes this less of an issue.

You’ll be just fine. Most modern EVs have battery thermal management to keep temperatures under control. Both heat and cold can cause different issues for the batteries.

If you can park in the shade, that’s best for your battery’s longevity. Cold weather affects range more than running the AC, so you should be good. Florida ranks high for EV ownership.

Just to clarify… cold affects the range based on the charge. Cold might even help extend battery life over time.

Cold limits range but protects the battery… Heat can increase range slightly, but too much heat can damage the battery. Only temperatures above 100F slow charging for EVs. Water-cooled EVs don’t have problems during normal operation, only air-cooled ones like the Leaf and Miev.

No worries at all. I bought a Tesla MYP LY and love it. Be sure to sign up for FPL evolution. It’s about $38 a month for off-peak charging, including the equipment and installation by an electrician.

Any modern car can handle heat… Just make sure it has a cooling system for the battery to keep it cool. It’s funny that there aren’t any EV meetups here.