Does a white electric car provide more range?

An urban legend suggests that white electric cars can travel further. True or false?

Many clichés surround the color of cars. No, red cars do not go faster! The idea that white electric cars ensure better range than cars of other colors may seem surprising at first glance, but it is based on a well-established physical principle: the reflection and absorption of sunlight. Light colors, like white, reflect more sunlight than dark colors. This means that a car painted white will absorb less heat from the sun compared to a dark-colored car, which can impact the use of air conditioning or heating inside the vehicle.

In an electric vehicle, the energy consumed for air conditioning or heating comes from the same battery that powers the motor. Thus, less intensive use of these systems could theoretically reduce overall energy consumption and increase the vehicle’s range. However, the actual impact of the car’s color on range remains relatively modest and is far less significant than other factors, such as driving style, type of route (urban or highway), and road topography.

There is no reliable data or widely recognized study that precisely quantifies the effect of body color on the range of electric cars. While white seems logically more advisable in hot countries to reduce the use of air conditioning, black allows for a slight reduction in heating use in cold countries.

A minor issue for electric vehicles?

Finally, this issue of air conditioning can easily be addressed by electric cars while they’re charging. Many of them today allow for climate control of the cabin in the absence of passengers so that the energy draw to cool or heat the temperature before the trip does not deplete the battery once unplugged from the outlet.

In summary, while choosing a white electric car may contribute to a slight improvement in range by reducing the need for air conditioning in warm and sunny environments, it is important to consider this as one factor among many when selecting an electric vehicle.

If you’re genuinely looking to extend the range of your electric car, focus instead on tire choices, aerodynamic deflectors, wheel covers, and other UV-reflecting films to prevent overheating of your cabin.

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