Final answer:
Cold temperatures cause poor battery performance by slowing down the chemical reactions necessary for generating electrical energy, as explained by the Nernst equation.
Step-by-step explanation:
Battery-powered electronics perform poorly in low temperatures mainly because cold temperatures slow down chemical reactions within the battery. A battery operates based on chemical reactions that convert chemical energy into electrical energy.
Internal resistance also plays a role, as it can cause a decrease in output voltage when the battery is depleted or overloaded. All in all, the lower the temperature, the less efficiently a battery is able to disperse its stored chemical energy, leading to poorer electronic performance.