New AAA research indicates winter weather can reduce electric vehicle range by 41% on average, underscoring infrastructural challenges meeting EV demand growth in colder conditions. With batteries drained faster, dead cars are rising and the lack of charging access has created yet another headwind for greater EV adoption.

Yahoo Finance's Pras Subramanian breaks down the details, providing tips for EV owners driving in cold conditions.

For more expert insight and the latest market action, click here to watch this full episode of Yahoo Finance Live.

Editor's note: This article was written by Angel Smith.

Video Transcript

RACHELLE AKUFFO: Another headwind is hitting electric vehicles. We're taking a look at winter weather, of course. Cold weather can reduce an EVs range by an average of 41%. That's according to AAA researchers. So with that in mind, owners from the East Coast to the Midwest are feeling it with packed EV charging stations and dead cars.

Now, gas-powered vehicles face the same problem. But gas stations remain more readily available. "Yahoo Finance" reporter Pras Subramanian, what is going on here?

PRAS SUBRAMANIAN: Hey, Rachelle. Yeah. It's a confluence of a number of things. It's more and more EV drivers. It's lack of charging equipment. And then, of course, it's that winter weather.

So let's look at the market here. So just this last year, America had about 10% of all new cars sold were EVs. That's a lot of new EVs. Tesla alone sold around 660,000 or so EVs in America just last year. So a lot of new drivers out there. And when that happens, they're looking for places to charge. And there's just not enough chargers out there right now for all these people. And especially, when we're talking about winter driving where your battery is losing power more than in other times of the year, you need to find these charging points.

But also, another big thing, of course, is just we mentioned the weather. And in Chicago, in particular. We're not just talking about 20 degrees, 10 degrees. We're talking about subzero temps. So that really impacts your car, your EV, and the battery charging. And then also some EV chargers were impacted by that cold, cold weather.

AKIKO FUJITA: Pras, you know that weather well, right? We were talking about this earlier about how-- even in gas vehicles, the efficiency drops. And whether that cold-- obviously, you're dealing with batteries with EVs. What can EV owners do to avoid being stranded in these extreme temperatures?

PRAS SUBRAMANIAN: Well, they can move to California like you did and not have to deal with this stuff. But I think the--

[LAUGHING]

--bigger issue is a number three-- I see a few things people can do here to fix that. Number one, precondition their car. Before they leave, you can precondition the car to let it know, you're going to leave. And it'll start preheat the battery to make it more efficient. And you don't lose as much range.

Secondly, plan your route in advance, if you can. If at all possible, let the car know you're going to be going to this spot a few hours before it'll know what to do. It'll know how much power it's going to be used. And they can tell you, you can get there in a safe amount of range.

Secondly, charge at home, if possible. In places like Norway, 90% of EV owners have homes. We don't have that here. But if you can do it, do that. And if not, make sure that you live in an apartment building that might have chargers nearby.

RACHELLE AKUFFO: It's true. Seeing some creative ideas online, people wrapping their EVs in blankets. I guess you have to do what you have to do, if you don't have a garage, you don't have a home you can charge at. Appreciate your update. Pras Subramanian, thanks so much.