EV Range Post Polar Vortex

The battery-pack being cold makes a big difference.

I clearly saw that between work and my non-heated but insulated garage.

 

You'll see a big improvement once temperatures warm. I did a lot of cold weather Lithium Ion battery testing in the past. The ability to extract charge in below freezing temperatures just isn't as good. Around 65-70 degrees is ideal, it seems.

It's a dichotomy of sorts... If you want to preserve Lithium Ion batteries, you keep them cool (such as temperatures in a refrigerator). However, if you want to extract maximum capacity from them, that happens when they're nice and warm. The problem is that the hotter they get the more you can also degrade their performance over time.

Cold won't harm them though (unless it's to the point that the electrolyte freezes).

 

Even with all the single digit days we had, the lowest the EV reading ever went to is 10.1.

 

Actually it is. It will be for all Californians this summer as we approach what may be the worst drought in a 100 years. I don't really care if I get the highest EV range I've ever gotten if my grocery bill shoots through the roof because farmers don't have enough water.

I'm not a meteorologist but I blame the cold you guys got and I didn't as I sit on a lawn chair basking in the near 80 degree sun with an ice cold drink in my hand.

Might as well enjoy this weather.

iPhone ?

 

Speaking about California, one of my highest EV ranges was something around 22 miles. My current range is around 20 miles.

 

Dang! What is your commute like?

 

Must be some long down hill round trips!

 

"warmer" weather has me back up to 10.8

 

You are right. I use around 80% of my EV range for my way back home, which is a long down hill. In essence I use 0 (cero) gas during it. Loving my Plug-in

 

How about your way to work?

 

My way to work is a long uphill. Not very steep.

 

How's EV on up hill?

 

Mine never went below 10.8 even during the depths of the February cold spell. The ICE did run nearly every trip though which has tanked my lifetime mileage!

Surprisingly it hasn't started much of an upward trajectory yet - on occasion I see 11.1 but today it was at 10.8 again (although it was 12 degrees here this morning with about 3" of new snow!)

 

It is not great. Around 10 miles. I tend to use my EV only on way back, downhill, to take maximum advantage of EV.

 

It was 6F here this AM. EV actually went up to 9.8, although not sure why and of course the ICE started when I went to work. It hasn't been that much warmer and looks to be back to winter tomorrow.

 

gotta love the kitty.