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This fact brief was originally published as an experiment to test the concepts behind fact briefs.
Readers should be aware that while there is still a lot of useful information in fact briefs like this one, not all of them reflect Gigafact's current methods and standards for fact briefs. If you come across any that you feel are out of date, don't hesitate to contact us at support@gigafact.org.

Would electric cars caught in a three-hour traffic jam drain their batteries?

By Marlo Lee
NO

A social media post on electric cars vs. gas-powered vehicles posed that question with others: Will electric car drivers suffer with virtually no heating if stuck overnight on a cold road? Will the GPS, radio and heater drain the electric battery?

The answer to all those questions is no, a senior engineer with the Union of Concerned Scientists told Lead Stories.

David Reichmuth debunked the post claim by claim, citing such supporting evidence as the fact that electric cars are outselling gasoline cars in often-frigid Norway, and that people elsewhere have used their electric vehicles for camping.

While energy consumption varies with EV models, "even a three-hour traffic jam would not strand an EV driver," Reichmuth said.

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTOR
Lead Stories is a fact checking and debunking website at the intersection of big data and journalism that launched in 2015. It scouts for trending stories, images, videos and posts that contain false information in order to fact check them as quickly as possible. It actively monitors the fake-news ecosystem and doesn’t wait for reader tips or reports before getting started on a story.
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