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A Kia EV2 prototype has been placed first in a winter test to assess the real-world driving range of EVs in cold weather compared to official figures. A deviation of -24.81% placed the prototype in first, ahead of the official participants; although WLTP figures have yet to be finalised, the target figure for the EV2 with the long-range battery is 448 kilometres, or 413 kilometres for the EV2 ‘GT-line’ with 19-inch wheels. Because it is a prototype, the EV2’s results are not included in the NAF’s final report.
The 2026 El Prix winter test was led by FIA Member Club the Norges Automobil-Forbund (NAF). Over two days in January in Folldal, Norway, 24 of the newest electric vehicle (EV) models on the Norwegian market, including the Audi A6 Avant, Ford Capri, Mercedes-Benz CLA, and Tesla Model Y, were put to the test in extreme temperatures as low as -32°C. The test – the El Prix – is the world’s largest independent real-world EV test, designed to show global drivers how electric cars actually perform beyond laboratory conditions.
The extreme temperatures impacted the vehicles ranges, with these record low temperatures causing range reductions averaging 38% when compared with the Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP) benchmarks.
However, despite losing some range, the vehicles remained reliable and comfortable, keeping drivers warm in harsh conditions with few technical issues reported. Encouragingly, when drivers used battery preconditioning before charging, most test vehicles came close to their stated charging times, from 10% to 80% capacity.
One of the vehicles was a Kia EV2 prototype, which demonstrated reliable real-world performance by covering 310.6 kilometres at the coldest-ever edition of the Norwegian Automotive Federation’s (NAF) El Prix Winter Test Drive.
The tested EV2 ‘GT-line’ prototype, equipped with a 61.0kWh long-range battery and 19-inch wheels, was driven for more than five hours, respecting speed limits, in extremely cold conditions before coming to a full stop in Norway’s mountainous Jotunheimen region, where temperatures currently drop to -21°C. Although WLTP has yet to be finalised, the target figure for the EV2 with the long-range battery is 448 kilometres; 413 kilometres for the EV2 ‘GT-line’ with 19-inch wheels. A deviation of -24.81% places the prototype in first, ahead of the official participants.
The EV2 is built on Kia’s 400V E-GMP architecture with 11kW AC, 22kW AC, and rapid DC fast charging capabilities. With the latter, the prototype charged from 10-to-80% in 36 minutes, only six minutes longer than official figures, despite the harsh sub-zero conditions.
Because it is a prototype, the EV2’s results are not included in the NAF’s final report. Nevertheless, the model still completed the route alongside the official programme and in the same conditions as series-production EVs. The formal WLTP figures, determined under the standardised WLTP laboratory test cycle and conditions, including a reference test temperature of approximately 23°C by an independent accredited technical service, are expected to be released in Q3 2026.
Held once in the summer and again in the winter, the El Prix Test Drive compares EVs on the Norwegian market under identical real-world driving and charging conditions. This year’s winter edition was the coldest on record, with temperatures dropping to -31°C.
In the same El Prix Winter Test Drive, the EV4 with an 81.4kWh battery and 19-inch wheels achieved 390 kilometres in identical conditions. With a WLTP homologated range of 594 kilometres, the model ranked among the top performers overall.
The findings offer practical insights for consumers in colder climates across the world – this comes as many countries are facing harsh winters this year with the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) stating that this season “could be the longest duration of cold in several decades.”
While the results show that extreme cold temperatures have a negative impact on EV range, NAF have suggested that, with proper preparation and a robust charging infrastructure, electric mobility could remain a viable mobility solution in colder regions.
El Prix, conducted twice a year to investigate EV performance in winter and summer, serves as a key reference for consumers and industry stakeholders seeking realistic performance expectations in different conditions, complementing the laboratory‑based WLTP figures with data from real‑world scenarios.
For more detailed results and methodology from this year’s El Prix, visit the NAF website: https://www.naf.no/elbil/elprix.
