Precondition Battery for fast Charger

[RedRaiderRivian]

Related question, how far out are people seeing the preconditioning start? I know it’s variable, but my (2015) Tesla never starts more than 10-15 minutes out. I’ve seen people talking about an hour of preconditioning here, but I’ve started well before that even. On a trip this weekend, preconditioning started at 1hr45min and 1hr57 min on different occasions. That’s pretty much the whole drive and seems either ridiculous to me or a software glitch. It’s pretty much the whole trip leg starting almost right after the DC charge that came right before it. Gen 2 dual max.

In hotter weather I have seen the preconditioning start over an hour out but watching the battery temps it was very slow cooling until about 10 minutes out from the charger. I am assuming the engineering team is taking into account the current battery temperature, air temperatures amd efficiency of the cooling system to optimize the process. I would much rather the system be quiet and working for a longer time than running at full blast and making a bunch of noise for the last 20 minutes.

Sponsored

 

[MidnightM00N]

In hotter weather I have seen the preconditioning start over an hour out but watching the battery temps it was very slow cooling until about 10 minutes out from the charger. I am assuming the engineering team is taking into account the current battery temperature, air temperatures amd efficiency of the cooling system to optimize the process. I would much rather the system be quiet and working for a longer time than running at full blast and making a bunch of noise for the last 20 minutes.

Fair points, plus the ones previously about the size of the battery and thermal mass.

At the same time, shouldn’t I be close to optimal charging temp when leaving a prior DC charge? It’s seems like not a ton of change in temp would be necessary to get back to ideal. Preconditioning only a few minutes after finishing a charge and for almost 2 hours before the next charge still seems odd to me. 80F ambient temps or so in my case as well.

The noise concern is Rivian-specific, if anything. Whatever my Tesla is doing for 10-15 minutes before a charge is silent and not noticeable but effective. Seems Rivian can’t figure out how to precondition quickly but also quietly so they have chosen slowly and quietly rather than quickly and loudly.

 

[SPITmadFIRE]

At the same time, shouldn’t I be close to optimal charging temp when leaving a prior DC charge? It’s seems like not a ton of change in temp would be necessary to get back to ideal. Preconditioning only a few minutes after finishing a charge and for almost 2 hours before the next charge still seems odd to me. 80F ambient temps or so in my case as well.

No, because your battery generates a ton of heat while charging. The optimal temperature is as low as the battery can be in order to give you full speed (216kW) at the start of your session, without getting too hot during that charge to induce thermal throttling. When your battery is charging slower at the end of the session, heat isn't as much of a factor but that 40% you pick up at 216kW generates a ton of heat. Especially when it's hot out, it's not uncommon to leave a charger at 110-115F which would cause throttling if you somehow began another charge at low SOC.

 

[jcrigler]

It will absolutely precondition. You have to make sure you navigate to the actual charger, not the address of the neighboring location. Also, MANY chargers don't provide anywhere near the advertised rate...

I

 

[jcrigler]

I'm happy that with the new update there is now a button I was asking for, to prepare the battery without messing around with the Nav system. It was much needed and welcome add to the latest OTA.

 

[jcrigler]

They need to add a button to tell the vehicle to precondition the battery. It's a pretty simple enhancement to their software. I am mystified why they haven't already done that.

 

[jcrigler]

They have finally done this! yey!!!

 

[Cal]

Wish they included instructions on how to use. E.g. Rivian recommendations on distance or time to arrival. Also temp considerations winter and summer, extreme cold/hot.

I'm planning a Portland to Monterey trip in a couple of months. Asked the Rivian charging support these questions and was told they'd have a charging specialist give me a call in a couple of days. I'll update here if they say anything of real substance other than press the button.

It may be that simple but pressing two hours out is going to be completely different from ten minutes out.

 

[emoore]

Wish they included instructions on how to use. E.g. Rivian recommendations on distance or time to arrival. Also temp considerations winter and summer, extreme cold/hot.

I'm planning a Portland to Monterey trip in a couple of months. Asked the Rivian charging support these questions and was told they'd have a charging specialist give me a call in a couple of days. I'll update here if they say anything of real substance other than press the button.

It may be that simple but pressing two hours out is going to be completely different from ten minutes out.

Why not navigate to a charger and have it automatically precondition?

 

[jcrigler]

Because I don't need to "navigate" to a charger I go to every week. Just give me a button.... which they finally did. Thank you Rivian.

Next they need to add a feature to schedule this.... so I don't even need the button.

 

[emoore]

Because I don't need to "navigate" to a charger I go to every week. Just give me a button.... which they finally did. Thank you Rivian.

Next they need to add a feature to schedule this.... so I don't even need the button.

Ok so you got what you asked for. Just use it as you see fit.

Sponsored