Prepping Rivian/EV for Major Winter Storm

[Gen(R3)Xer]

How are you guys prepping your Rivian and/or other EV for this major winter storm (charging to 100% in case the power goes out, etc)?

Here’s what’s going down in my neck of the woods (Central Ohio) tonight into tomorrow according to NOAA:

* WHAT...Heavy snow expected. Total snow accumulations between 8 and 12 inches.

* WHERE...Portions of east central and southeast Indiana, northern Kentucky, and central, south central, southwest, and west central Ohio.

* WHEN...From 10 AM this morning to noon EST Monday.

* IMPACTS...Travel could be very difficult. The hazardous conditions could impact the Monday morning commute.

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[Time2Roll]

I would charge and unplug to avoid any issues with power surges as the power goes off and eventually restored.
I say this from sunny SoCal

 

[Gen(R3)Xer]

I would charge and unplug to avoid any issues with power surges as the power goes off and eventually restored.
I say this from sunny SoCal

Good point. I charged to 80% at the Supercharger, drove home, and my EV is out back ready for the snow. I don’t think the Model 3 has V2G. I don’t have a converter or a backup battery anyway. I guess if we lose power we’ll just go to a hotel. Worse case scenario if we can’t travel we can stay in the vehicle with camp mode on. We should be dug out by Monday afternoon/evening.

 

[hammick]

Charge it to 80% is my advice. I wouldn’t want my battery at 100% for days.

 

[Gen(R3)Xer]

Charge it to 80% is my advice. I wouldn’t want my battery at 100% for days.

Yeah, I’ve heard it’s bad to charge it to 100% and then let it sit. Although if we were getting ice instead of snow and had V2G and a converter I’d want as much energy stored as possible. I’m also wondering how long an 80 kWh battery could power a 1,300 sq ft condo?

 

[Zoidz]

I charged to 85%, unplugged and moved it off my driveway so I can plow with my truck and not have to deal with the Rivian being in the way. I would avoid 100%, not good for the battery.

 

[hammick]

Yeah, I’ve heard it’s bad to charge it to 100% and then let it sit. Although if we were getting ice instead of snow and had V2G and a converter I’d want as much energy stored as possible. I’m also wondering how long an 80 kWh battery could power a 1,300 sq ft condo?

it’s not about square feet. It’s about the loads. Three of these EG4 batteries will power our 5k square foot house from 6am to midnight even in the summer with judicious use of our 5 ton AC. We cold soak the house at 63 degrees from midnight to 6am for .03 per kw. With a Rivian, you’re really only gonna be running your refrigerators, some lights laptops, etc.

Our heat is natural gas BTW


https://signaturesolar.com/eg4-wall...indoor-heated-ul1973-ul9540a-10-year-warranty

 

[mikehmb]

Yeah, I’ve heard it’s bad to charge it to 100% and then let it sit. Although if we were getting ice instead of snow and had V2G and a converter I’d want as much energy stored as possible. I’m also wondering how long an 80 kWh battery could power a 1,300 sq ft condo?

As long as you're not running the heater, the answer is ... a pretty long time.

Assuming you keep the home-vampires at bay (300W max for the house when everything is "off"), lights + modern TV + stereo + occasional appliances, and 80kWh will last you many days. Likely a week - more if you're diligent about turning things off. No AC or electric heating.

This of course assumes you have V2G that can properly push current. Otherwise, the on-board inverter is 1500W, and probably only moderately efficient, so you can do the math from there.

BTW charging to high SOC and letting it sit is very different in cold vs. hot. Would never do it when temps are >80degrees F. Not nearly as big a deal at 25 degrees.

 

[SSteveEV]

The service center provided window wiper/washer fluid froze on me at 3*F yesterday. So maybe check that and swap out for something better suited to winter.

 

[SSteveEV]

I also used to have a nice Kirkland nuts plastic jar of rock salt to toss under my tires when charging as there were some edge cases of vehicles sliding off while plugged in if parked on ice.

Other thread: https://www.rivianforums.com/forum/...-gear-list-and-survival-kit.22148/post-449146

 

[Gen(R3)Xer]

The service center provided window wiper/washer fluid froze on me at 3*F yesterday. So maybe check that and swap out for something better suited to winter.

I got some -25 windshield washer fluid this week. I was running low anyway.

 

[Gen(R3)Xer]

I also used to have a nice Kirkland nuts plastic jar of rock salt to toss under my tires when charging as there were some edge cases of vehicles sliding off while plugged in if parked on ice.

Other thread: https://www.rivianforums.com/forum/...-gear-list-and-survival-kit.22148/post-449146

Good idea. I’ve seen some videos of vehicles sliding off of steep driveways due to the weight.

 

[mkhuffman]

I charged to 85%. Although I have a portable generator, if we lose power I may plug into the truck initially until I get the generator running.

It's 30 degrees and raining here now. I would much rather have snow. Ice is what brings down power lines...

 

[Gen(R3)Xer]

I charged to 85%. Although I have a portable generator, if we lose power I may plug into the truck initially until I get the generator running.

It's 30 degrees and raining here now. I would much rather have snow. Ice is what brings down power lines...

I’m sorry to hear that. Ice is definitely worse than snow. I remember as a kid an ice storm weighing down trees and causing them to break.

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