One of the major issues with electric cars, at least in colder climates, is how much cold weather affects their range. Using a heater can be a significant drain on a car’s battery. In fact, some Nissan Leaf owners have claimed a range decrease of 20 percent when using a heater. To alleviate this Nissan has announced that a new cold weather package will be available in the future.
The package will come standard on cars sold in colder areas and will be available as an option elsewhere. It includes heated seats, mirror, and steering wheel, as well as some form of temperature management for the car’s battery pack.
Unfortunately for cold Leaf owners there’s no word yet on when the package will be available or just how much it will cost. Hopefully we’ll learn that information before winter sets in.