Battery Life in Winter

[Rampy]

This was today on I80 here, one big concern is how much juice is used to heat the cabin & run things when just sitting for hours.

Yes I’m aware gasoline motors run out and need refueling, but I know we get about 1.5 hours of idle time per gallon and we never ever let the gas tank get below 3/4 tank & alway fill up before leaving town

I’m trying to learn how EV’s do in winter, that’s obviously a huge concern living in rural America where the next town can be hours down the road if not days stuck in traffic like this

‏‏١٣ ألف‏ مشاهدة‏ · ‏‏٣٣٣‏ تفاعلاً‏ | Traffic 6 miles west of Creston Wyoming be safe guys!🚚❄️ #cdl #driver #wyoming #snow #traffic | Damonte Harris

Traffic 6 miles west of Creston Wyoming be safe guys!🚚❄️ #cdl #driver #wyoming #snow #traffic.

www.facebook.com

 

[pwrofgrayskull]

I agree, I have the same concerns so I’d like to see some real-world feedback from everyone so I can educate myself.

I’m also concerned about the decreased EV range as temperatures fall. For those with real-world experiences, how much does battery performance suffer in the cold?

 

[Scout2027]

In real world driving with low temperatures and heating on, range drops to 70%. Sharing experience from a tesla model 3 in Toronto winters.

 

[pwrofgrayskull]

In real world driving with low temperatures and heating on, range drops to 70%. Sharing experience from a tesla model 3 in Toronto winters.

Thank you, I appreciate the information. Any other impacts from colder weather on an EV in your experience? Does it change charge times?

 

[Scout2027]

Thank you, I appreciate the information. Any other impacts from colder weather on an EV in your experience? Does it change charge times?

Colder batteries do take a little longer to charge but nothing that you will notice. Also, it is recommended that you "precondition your car" before you begin driving the morning. This brings your cabin and battery to desired temperature for a comfortable drive. All this is super easy and just a tap of a button on the app and you can schedule it. The car software is smart and can manage the drive experience based on the weather and road conditions.

 

[HoboDrifter]

The best tip is to have a second vehicle. MN winters are a nightmare with a Mach e.

 

[Jhscout]

I have a tesla model y performance and here in Kansas City, I get about 70% of my normal range while driving in the hard winter. Now, I also camp in it occasionally and even in the middle of January, an overnight of keeping the car at 68degs will only use 10% for a 10hr period.

 

[pwrofgrayskull]

The best tip is to have a second vehicle. MN winters are a nightmare with a Mach e.

Thanks for relaying your experience, I would love to hear more detail on the issues and challenges.

 

[pwrofgrayskull]

I have a tesla model y performance and here in Kansas City, I get about 70% of my normal range while driving in the hard winter. Now, I also camp in it occasionally and even in the middle of January, an overnight of keeping the car at 68degs will only use 10% for a 10hr period.

Thank you, that helps.

 

[HoboDrifter]

Thanks for relaying your experience, I would love to hear more detail on the issues and challenges.

Ok here’s my range anxiety story.

I had to make a 120 mile round trip in winter it was -20 degrees. My range in the heated garage said 200 miles. Once I got to my destination it was clear I wasn’t going to make it home. Went to charge at ford and they had a slow charger, after googling for a while I found one the next town over (in the wrong direction). I got there and plugged in and charging was sloooooow. Sat there for 2 hours. On the way home the car was telling me to reduce climate controls to conserve battery, so I did that, but in order to keep the windows from fogging up I had to roll down the windows. I got home with 3 miles range remaining and was very cold. The 2 hour journey took me all day. The only way I’d buy another EV in the Midwest is if it’s got a generator. Hi Scout!

 

[pwrofgrayskull]

Ok here’s my range anxiety story.

I had to make a 120 mile round trip in winter it was -20 degrees. My range in the heated garage said 200 miles. Once I got to my destination it was clear I wasn’t going to make it home. Went to charge at ford and they had a slow charger, after googling for a while I found one the next town over (in the wrong direction). I got there and plugged in and charging was sloooooow. Sat there for 2 hours. On the way home the car was telling me to reduce climate controls to conserve battery, so I did that, but in order to keep the windows from fogging up I had to roll down the windows. I got home with 3 miles range remaining and was very cold. The 2 hour journey took me all day. The only way I’d buy another EV in the Midwest is if it’s got a generator. Hi Scout!

Holy cow, that’s crazy!!

 

[Lagspike]

I’ve had a EV for a year now in southwest Wyoming, usually lose about 25% of range depending on how you use the heat. Generally I cycle heated steering wheel, seat, and defrost on and off as needed. Never had a problem making it anywhere, generally charge well beyond what the navigation calls for just in case. Battery preconditioning is priceless when it’s below 0. If your stuck in traffic your energy use will be pretty low, we always take extra clothing and blankets in the winter (even in our ICE cars).

 

[pwrofgrayskull]

I’ve had a EV for a year now in southwest Wyoming, usually lose about 25% of range depending on how you use the heat. Generally I cycle heated steering wheel, seat, and defrost on and off as needed. Never had a problem making it anywhere, generally charge well beyond what the navigation calls for just in case. Battery preconditioning is priceless when it’s below 0. If your stuck in traffic your energy use will be pretty low, we always take extra clothing and blankets in the winter (even in our ICE cars).

Do you typically only charge beyond on winter trips or year-round?

Is battery preconditioning standard on all EVs? I need to look into that. Hopefully the Scouts will have it. I guess I had always assumed it was standard in all of them, but I know what happens when we assume.

 

[Lagspike]

I use the “A better route planner” app which adjusts range for weather conditions. You can set your preferred leaving and arrival battery percentages. I like to arrive with 25% left. Preconditioning is pretty standard anymore from what I know, I would be surprised if Scout didn’t include it.

Do you typically only charge beyond on winter trips or year-round?

Is battery preconditioning standard on all EVs? I need to look into that. Hopefully the Scouts will have it. I guess I had always assumed it was standard in all of them, but I know what happens when we assume.

 

[Rampy]

Ok here’s my range anxiety story.

I had to make a 120 mile round trip in winter it was -20 degrees. My range in the heated garage said 200 miles. Once I got to my destination it was clear I wasn’t going to make it home. Went to charge at ford and they had a slow charger, after googling for a while I found one the next town over (in the wrong direction). I got there and plugged in and charging was sloooooow. Sat there for 2 hours. On the way home the car was telling me to reduce climate controls to conserve battery, so I did that, but in order to keep the windows from fogging up I had to roll down the windows. I got home with 3 miles range remaining and was very cold. The 2 hour journey took me all day. The only way I’d buy another EV in the Midwest is if it’s got a generator. Hi Scout!

I’ve heard 3rd party horror stories & read 3rd-5th party horror stories but this is the 1st person experience I’ve ever read

Thanks…..and that’s my nightmare as it’s 50 miles to the next closest town & trying to charge from a 110 outlet is impossible

 

[Rampy]

I’ve had a EV for a year now in southwest Wyoming, usually lose about 25% of range depending on how you use the heat. Generally I cycle heated steering wheel, seat, and defrost on and off as needed. Never had a problem making it anywhere, generally charge well beyond what the navigation calls for just in case. Battery preconditioning is priceless when it’s below 0. If you’re stuck in traffic your energy use will be pretty low, we always take extra clothing and blankets in the winter (even in our ICE cars).

I’ve been stuck on 80 for hours & can imagine getting stuck for a day or so with how bad it gets. Not getting to a recharging station is a real concern. I’m assuming every town on 80 has fast chargers, but getting to them in a blizzard could be a struggle

We have survival bags in each vehicle, blankets, pillows, blankets, water, food, toilet paper, paper towels, socks, long underwear, water and more

 

[Rampy]

I use the “A better route planner” app which adjusts range for weather conditions. You can set your preferred leaving and arrival battery percentages. I like to arrive with 25% left. Preconditioning is pretty standard anymore from what I know, I would be surprised if Scout didn’t include it.

It’s about 160 miles from Sheridan to Casper with almost nothing in between and we make this drive monthly if not more often visiting family & another couple hours to Casper depending on route. Winter travel is a huge concern as I doubt Muddy Gap has a EV charger

 

[Lagspike]

It’s about 160 miles from Sheridan to Casper with almost nothing in between and we make this drive monthly if not more often visiting family & another couple hours to Casper depending on route. Winter travel is a huge concern as I doubt Muddy Gap has a EV charger

Yeah that’s a good stretch, range extender option might be worthwhile for you. The good news is chargers are going up fairly quickly, hopefully by the time Scouts are rolling there will be a spot in between.

 

[MountainDad]

This was today on I80 here, one big concern is how much juice is used to heat the cabin & run things when just sitting for hours.

Yes I’m aware gasoline motors run out and need refueling, but I know we get about 1.5 hours of idle time per gallon and we never ever let the gas tank get below 3/4 tank & alway fill up before leaving town

I’m trying to learn how EV’s do in winter, that’s obviously a huge concern living in rural America where the next town can be hours down the road if not days stuck in traffic like this

‏‏١٣ ألف‏ مشاهدة‏ · ‏‏٣٣٣‏ تفاعلاً‏ | Traffic 6 miles west of Creston Wyoming be safe guys!🚚❄️ #cdl #driver #wyoming #snow #traffic | Damonte Harris

Traffic 6 miles west of Creston Wyoming be safe guys!🚚❄️ #cdl #driver #wyoming #snow #traffic.

www.facebook.com

If I know I'm going somewhere, I precondition my battery and cabin. My Polestar has an option to set timers (time to make the donuts...) or control preconditioning manually.

Just like remote starting an ICE vehicle, this turns on the climate control and the heat pump and begins warming the battery and the cabin. This uses less battery capacity than just getting in and driving because you're not trying to drive the mass of the vehicle on a cold battery while also trying to warm a cabin, operate seat heaters and defrosters, etc.

If you're plugged in, then the car uses pole power to perform the preconditioning, not the battery.

That said, when it's cold, I do get a message that says "Acceleration and range may be reduced due to cold temperatures" message. That's just battery chemistry, but to be quite honest, just like warming up a car, I can drop the hammer after driving for a bit and it feels just like it does when it's 70 degrees outside.

So, for the Harvester, I'd expect a "cold weather" protocol that uses the range extender to precondition the battery and the cabin, rather than using the battery, if it's not plugged in. If it is plugged in, it should use pole power to condition everything.

 

[MountainDad]

It’s about 160 miles from Sheridan to Casper with almost nothing in between and we make this drive monthly if not more often visiting family & another couple hours to Casper depending on route. Winter travel is a huge concern as I doubt Muddy Gap has a EV charger

That stretch is pretty flat. I drive from Colorado Springs to Boulder and back on I-25, which has a very pronounced W-shaped elevation profile with nearly 2,000 feet of gross elevation change, about 1,000 feet net, and several stretches where I set the cruise at 82mph if there's no traffic. In my Polestar 2 (a little more aero than a large SUV...), I can make that round trip on my 75kWh battery with about 25% remaining if I charge up to 100% at the beginning.

My Polestar does have an automatic highway mode that disconnects the front motor and cruises on the rear motor only until it needs it for hard acceleration or traction (...ahem, which is sometimes "required" ).

160 miles one way shouldn't be that big a deal, to be honest, even on electricity only.

EDIT: ...that last bit is going to become a post on suggested features...