Winter prep: How do you keep range loss under control? ❄️

[Greg Chick]

I realized I needed to drive on a cold morning, garage was 32, charge was at 85%, I just moved the charge limit to 90%, it charged for half an hour and that likely warmed up my battery. I as well turned on the seat heaters and HVAC heat to 68.

My concern is, does the interior heat power come from the power batteries, or the 12VDC controls battery? As well, while it is plugged in, is that different than when driving?

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[GeorgeHudetz]

I assume this has been posted before somewhere on this forum, but it seems relevant to this thread. The take-aways seems to be that, (a) preconditioning works, and (b) when starting in a very cold environment, without preconditioning, it takes about 30-40 minutes of normal driving for the battery to warm up. Have others found that to be true?

 

[hudesigns]

Rivian has stated it does NOT have blended braking (friction mixed with regen). This is beyond dispute. Lucid follows the same approach.

When you push down the brake pedal, the friction brakes are engaged. Regen is whatever you selected (high, medium or low) and it is totally unrelated to how hard you press on the brake pedal.

When using adaptive cruise, the discussion is about what happens when the stopping force needed is more than what the selected regen provides. I think it is likely friction brakes are added to the regen to slow the truck. Nobody has definitively proven if that happens or not.

Understood what you’re saying, not a big deal. But there’s something I feel mindlessly convenient with my habit when charge for departure works well. I usually set charge limit in summer at 60% and winter 80%. My daily usage is about 10%-40% battery charge. When I come home I just habitually plug it in. That’s it and I don’t have to think about it. Every morning it’s always just finished charging with a warm battery. If I only need 15% to top up, it may start at 5am and if coming home near empty it might start at 8pm. I don’t have to think.

 

[jeeden]

I realized I needed to drive on a cold morning, garage was 32, charge was at 85%, I just moved the charge limit to 90%, it charged for half an hour and that likely warmed up my battery. I as well turned on the seat heaters and HVAC heat to 68.

My concern is, does the interior heat power come from the power batteries, or the 12VDC controls battery? As well, while it is plugged in, is that different than when driving?

The resistive heater in Gen 1 and the heat pump in Gen 2 both are powered by the HV battery. They use too much power for the 12v battery, doesn't matter if it is plugged in or not. While it is plugged in the HV battery will be replenished as it is used.

 

[TyeeMike]

i guess this affects people that dont have access to home and work chargers. i just plug in and drive. is this really an issue overall. are daily drives such that people cannot deal with reduced range

 

[tmw]

Been driving EVs for years now and generally its not been an issue. But here is my advice and what has may my life easier...coming from Indiana.

1) I have a winter set of tires and put them on when the weather gets cold. They grip and ride better in cold weather with noticeably better stopping and turning capability. More side walls is better in the winter coming from a state with potholes that can be the width of your car so go for 20" rims and it makes your swap out easier.

NOTE: you only get pulled over for drunk driving in the winter of Indiana if you are driving straight because sober drivers swerve through both lanes to avoid tire swallowing pot holts.

2) If you get lazy and don't have them swapped when it gets warm....the ride gets a little lose as the tirewalls allow a bit more sway (enough I notice). So plan swap them back out early.

3) Plug in when you get home and set pre-warm on the schedule.

4) Heat your garage: I ended up adding a super efficient mini split and sealed my garage door up. It doesn't cost much, I DIY'd and and couldn't be happier. Cooler in the summer, warmer in the winter and my car drives off and eliminates all the ice and water overnight (mostly). Honestly this is just super nice.

5) Plan a little extra time on your travels and don't go to low on the charge. When travelling up to michigan or Canada in the cold I have called ahead and asked for a place to trickle charge at hotels or B&B's and nearly every time they have found accomodation. Doesn't put a ton of miles back on but does a little and avoids the drop in the morning from 4' weather.

6) I tend to keep in cab temperature down a little and use the seat heaters...its fine.


Last item: DC charge when the car is warm. Try to avoid coming from an overnight outside, cold in single degree weather all night and then go straight to a DC charger. You might be there forever and it may never come up to full charging speed. Charge to 60%+ at night before you check in for the night.

 

[mkhuffman]

i guess this affects people that dont have access to home and work chargers. i just plug in and drive. is this really an issue overall. are daily drives such that people cannot deal with reduced range

My work commute is 145 miles one way, not including driving I may do while in that area (lunch/dinner meetings, etc.). My office does not have any charging options. My hotel does not either.

In the summer I can drive there and home and never need to charge except at home. But usually I need something unless I just go to the office, hotel and home. So yes, efficiency is very important to me and I am concerned about what the impact of winter will be on my commute.

Public charging sucks, and if I can avoid it with cold weather hacks, I will.

 

[TyeeMike]

Gotcha Todd. Although in Canada, the lower mainland around Vancouver isn't representative of the rest of Canada. So cold weather range loss is a non issue here, or for people that only commute the more regular under 20 Mile range on a daily basis. It the cold weather hacks help that is great, i will STFU on this issue which has no affect on me, so shouldn't have even piped up.

 

[tmw]

a tad bit jealous of the area you live in

 

[TyeeMike]

The greater Vancouver area is a tough place to live. You have to choose between golf, skiing or fishing in the late fall and winter months. However, If you drive two hours East or North from the lower mainland you do get a whole different winter experience....

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