A week ago when the temperature was a balmy -10 in Minnesota, I saw a Chevy Volt struggling to make 50mph. The Volt has 1398 cc gasoline engine to keep the battery charged and to run a small generator to drive the wheels when there isn’t enough battery power. I am certain that garden tractor sized engine was running all out just to keep up with the cold. Later in the week when the temperature dipped to -27 I doubt the Chevy Volt or any of the other electric cars would be very functional.
“The Volt has 1398 cc gasoline engine to keep the battery charged and to run a small generator to drive the wheels when there isn’t enough battery power.”
I can’t remember if it was this car or something like it, but someone tore into the drive train of the car and found mechanical linkage between the gasoline engine and the wheels, despite what they advertised. Then GM owned-up and said, yea, in really rare circumstances (like going uphill, I guess) the motor alone won’t cut it.