Anybody else covers their charge port in winter when a storm (especially ice storm) is forecasted?

Is there something in the owner's manual or elsewhere that indicates there would be a problem with the charge port if it gets cold?

 

and i think some charge port doors have frozen shut when not charging

 

Is that a concern with your Bolt as well?

 

yes, some complaints over at the bolt forums. usually in places with extreme weather. it was 40 below in part of canada the other day

 

Does the Bolt have a pre-heating system for the battery pack?

 

They use a liquid system like the Volt for preheating.

 

Thanks...

 

I made my own out of the some 1 inch dia, soft pipe insulation stuff, fitted pieces together with contact cement and wraped using painters tape to hold it in place by slipping the tape around the front and back of the port door. 2 or 3 full loops of tape in pretty much a permanent solution for slipping it on and off easily. Doesn't look all that pretty but it works, OK, even when 40 mph wind gusts blow it a little bit away from the panel above the port.
I also use the same pipe insulation for the lower grille block, when there are more than a few days of really cold temps. I use the stiffer 1/2 in pipe insulation for the upper grille block and it fits in nicely if it's cup right. 3 pieces and the gille block is in for however long the cold snap lasts.

I really hate having to clean wet snow out from behind the charge port door, especially if it's going to freeze the door shut if I don't.

 

I have this in my amazon cart right now, just waiting for my cart to fill up so i don't pay delivery (non prime member).
I like that it has magnet seal.

LZSTEC EV Charger Plug Port Cover, Rainproof Waterproof Outdoor Electric Car Charging Port Cover, Rain Sun UV Snow All Weather Protection, Magnetic Adhesion, Fit for Electric Vehicles w/Steel Body : Amazon.ca: Automotive

 

They will precondition the battery as needed when plugged in, and when not plugged in, down to 40% battery charge.
But they don’t precondition the battery when driving to the next charger like a Tesla does.
But they don’t have really high speed charging ability, dcfc is the max I believe.

theres a guy in Canada who said his bolt is fine parked outside at -40c as long as its plugged in

 

Never have, never had an issue that couldn’t be solved by a light ‘thunk’ to the charge port door to break the ice.
This has been in Minnesota winters with:

• Tesla
• Leaf
• Volt

 

Sure, and my umbrella won’t protect me from a meteor.
This type of event is so rare where I live and travel that I don’t see it as something to worry about.

 

Last bad ice storm, I couldn't get out of my driveway.

 

I appreciate that your experience is different than mine, and that these measures are more reasonable for you.
That said, my circumstances are not "lucky". They are very typical in my area.

We don't get such storms often.
I don't have a second home.
My backup power doesn't require gas/propane/deisel, so even if I did have a second home, backup power would not require my constant visits.

Different choices, different regions, yes. Luck? No.