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

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.