Using external electric heater to keep battery warm overnight.

[SL55]

Did anyone give a thought about using an external heater to keep the battery warm overnight in the garage when the weather is freezing? I am looking at the towel heater in my bathroom mounted on the wall. It is 24 x 32“ in size. What if I place it on the floor under the battery? Would it do any damage to the battery? Would the heat be spreading more or less evenly throughout the battery? I remember using a cooking plate set on maximum heat under the oil pan of my Touareg overnight, and the cabin would warm up pretty quickly in the morning. Any thoughts?

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[COdogman]

How cold does it actually get in your garage? My first thought is this is probably more trouble than it’s worth and I can’t imagine it would be all that effective. Just my opinion….

 

[NY_Rob]

That's going to consume more power than you will save by having a warm battery, especially considering how well insulated the individual 2170 cells are.

Want a warm battery? Just gun it out of your driveway and don't stop for about 5 min. That will warm up your battery ?

 

[beatle]

Why would you want to do this?

 

[Zoidz]

That's going to consume more power than you will save by having a warm battery, especially considering how well insulated the individual 2170 cells are.

Want a warm battery? Just gun it out of your driveway and don't stop for about 5 min. That will warm up your battery ?

Agree. We could do the math, but gut instinct tells me energy losses will outweigh any real benefit. If it was thermally attached, maybe…..

 

[HaveBlue]

Insulate the garage first before trying to heat it.

 

[supernu8]

First - if your garage isn't sealed and insulated than a heater of any kind is a waste of energy. You won't get any significant heat into the truck while trying to warm up the neighborhood.

Second - Plug in the truck and remote preheat before you leave or set a schedule preheat if you're a gen 1 (gen 2 should get this soon.) This method will get more heat directly into the battery without the hassle of an external heater. Any heat lost during charging will act to heat up the garage. +1 reason ev is better than ice.

Third- if you're building a garage from scratch, put in floor heat. It's great.

 

[JamboF4]

The towels will do a nice job of soaking up the suspension fluid and the wife will not be pleased!

 

[emoore]

Won’t make a difference at all.

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

Alright, which aftermarket vendor is going to make a fitted New Zealand sheep skin coat for the R1? I'm kidding of course.

 

[Supratachophobia]

Did anyone give a thought about using an external heater to keep the battery warm overnight in the garage when the weather is freezing? I am looking at the towel heater in my bathroom mounted on the wall. It is 24 x 32“ in size. What if I place it on the floor under the battery? Would it do any damage to the battery? Would the heat be spreading more or less evenly throughout the battery? I remember using a cooking plate set on maximum heat under the oil pan of my Touareg overnight, and the cabin would warm up pretty quickly in the morning. Any thoughts?

That wouldn't even cause a rounding error in the battery temp....

 

[elatrickWheels]

The first and second laws of thermodynamics should be your guide here.

 

[Mathme]

At my vacation house last winter, I'd park in the 55 degree garage when it was single-digit temp cold outside. When I'd get into the truck in the morning, my battery would be 55 degrees.

I think the OP would be better to put a space heater in the garage to warm the entire space up to keep the garage warmer in general. This will likely however, consume way more energy than just driving with a cold battery in the morning.

I think the best option to heat the battery is to set a scheduled charge time and plan for it to finish shortly before you are ready to leave in the morning. Charging those cells is likely the easiest way to warm them.

 

[Ranchogulag]

I went to undergrad school in northwest Wisconsin. I had a 68 Karmin giha. It would sit all week long in subzero temperatures. To start it on Saturday I would lite up a pan full of charcoal briquettes and slide it under the motor. After a hour or so it would start right up. Maybe this would work for you.

 

[HyperionMark]

I also live in a cold climate. I will run a space heater on low at night to keep the garage (3 stall, insulated) above freezing, but it only needs done if it's close to zero or under. I've noticed that as long as my battery is above freezing it doesn't seem to try to warm itself which means that efficiency isn't affected quite as much.

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