In extreme temperatures, cabin cooling and heating eat up significant amounts of power from an EV's battery. As a result, there are many gains to be made in terms of boosting driving range by making heating/cooling systems more efficient.

That's where Japanese top air conditioner maker Daikin Industries comes in, as the company claims it has developed a refrigerant for EVs that can extend their range by up to 50%, with the product scheduled to go on sale by 2025. 

It is obviously great news and, as the report from Nikkei Asia reveals, Daikin's new refrigerant has a boiling point of about minus 40 C, which is 10 to 15 degrees lower than the product currently used by EV makers worldwide.