I found this interesting, regarding the cold...........

[JeffKeryk]

The EV cold weather problem is a charging problem; specifically waiting in line to charge. If you take an EV out with a low state of charge in these conditions and you cannot get on a Supercharger, you are asking for trouble.
I am not familiar with other EVs, but a Tesla tells you how many chargers are available, how many are out of order and projected wait times if necessary.

Taking any car out that is not prepared for the current conditions is asking for trouble.

 

[y_p_w]

Another thing is the Chicago video was near O'Hare and many were people who had been gone for a while, retuning and finding the cold dead cars. Fly those friendly skies.....

There are some off-airport long-term parking providers that have EV charging. I would think something like Level 1 charging would be ideal for indefinite parking, just to keep the battery level and perhaps to help pre-heat the vehicle and battery before starting. Not sure how that would be handled though. Maybe a higher daily rate or charge for the electricity used, although that kind of logging may be more expensive than a power limited system. The benefit would be maintaining the battery rather than charging it. I guess some might game a flat rate EV parking space by arriving with minimal charge, but that's the case with employer or other complimentary or flat rate EV charging at hotels or other businesses.

https://www.theparkingspot.com/how-it-works/electric-vehicle-charging

 

[UncleDave]

The EV cold weather problem is a charging problem; specifically waiting in line to charge. If you take an EV out with a low state of charge in these conditions and you cannot get on a Supercharger, you are asking for trouble.
I am not familiar with other EVs, but a Tesla tells you how many chargers are available, how many are out of order and projected wait times if necessary.

Taking any car out that is not prepared for the current conditions is asking for trouble.

Bunch of post mortem on this online if the anyone here wants to learn how this happened, but most aren't interested in knowing.

It's a bit like the Madonna Inn " EV charging crisis".

I rode around all that weekend in Model 3 cabs and even posted a pict - no problems. It's a crappy cab, but thats a different story.

 

[y_p_w]

Obviously this takes a little bit of planning. I've noted that it would probably make more sense to keep the battery at a higher level of charge if possible if it's going to be in cold temperatures, and especially if it's going to be waiting for a while. Tesla recommends navigating for 30-45 minutes before arriving at a Supercharger in cold temperatures, or

https://www.tesla.com/ownersmanual/...619-4A95-A0CF-94E0D03BEBEF.html#BEFOREDRIVING​

Tesla recommends using Trip Planner to navigate to a charging location for at least 30-45 minutes before arrival to ensure optimal Battery temperature and charging conditions. If the drive to the charging location is less than 30-45 minutes, consider preconditioning the Battery before driving (see Before Driving).​

As far as I know, the problem in cold temperatures is with Level 3 charging, which requires a certain battery temperature in order to safety accept a charge. Not as big a deal with Level 2 or lower.

 

[Astro14]

Right now there are more than 2000 flight delays due to cold. These airplanes aren’t quite quite ready for prime time, just like electric cars.
View attachment 199146

The issue is the precipitation, not cold.

So, this is a specious comparison.

Airplanes are pretty good with cold, they spend their operating hours in -40C or colder, often down to -65C

The problem with frozen precipitation is its effect on airfoil performance.

But the cold itself isn’t an issue.

 

[Cujet]

There are all the vampire electronics in a car.

Lithium-ion batteries don't actually lose that much capacity from self discharge. But the vehicle is drawing power.

Correct. This is not a fault of battery power.

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

You guys should see some of the comments on car centric forums because of this cold snap. "My car won't start, do I need a new battery?"

How many ICE owners have been caught off guard with old batteries? Is it a news story? No. Especially not on a network like FOX.

 

[JeffKeryk]

You guys should see some of the comments on car centric forums because of this cold snap. "My car won't start, do I need a new battery?"

How many ICE owners have been caught off guard with old batteries? Is it a news story? No. Especially not on a network like FOX.

Disagree @BMWTurboDzl. Even though I live in sunny CA (maybe 60's later today), the Chicago fiasco proves I need another Model 3, this time a Performance. Fremont better hurry up!

 

[demarpaint]

You guys should see some of the comments on car centric forums because of this cold snap. "My car won't start, do I need a new battery?"

How many ICE owners have been caught off guard with old batteries? Is it a news story? No. Especially not on a network like FOX.

More networks than FOX were reporting it. EV charging issues also recently made the front page of Long Island's Newsday, although it wasn't weather related IIRC.

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

More networks than FOX were reporting it. EV charging issues also recently made the front page of Long Island's Newsday, although it wasn't weather related IIRC.

My point is that it's not newsworthy to run a story on people who can't start their ICE because their batteries died from the cold but we all know that it's just as likely to happen.

 

[demarpaint]

My point is that it's not newsworthy to run a story on people who can't start their ICE because their batteries died from the cold but we all know that it's just as likely to happen.

I'm not sure what the point was, but there was a lesson in it for many. ICE batteries die, no doubt, but with a jump pack or jumper cables most people can be on their way in short order, to get home or get a battery. Unfortunately that's not the case with an EV, and believe it or not there are probably people stupid enough to think an EV can be up and running as quickly as an ICE vehicle that needs a jump. If there are people that stupid and they saw that video, they learned something.

 

[gfh77665]

You guys should see some of the comments on car centric forums because of this cold snap. "My car won't start, do I need a new battery?"
How many ICE owners have been caught off guard with old batteries? Is it a news story? No. Especially not on a network like FOX.

Thats laughable. Its ALL over the media. Even the Houston TV news all had the stories.

ICE owners with old batteries? Seriously? 30 min. at WalMart, or DIY for 15 min. and you are good for 5+ years. No "conditioning" required. Zero comparison to all the EV woes.

Here is USA Today

https://www.usatoday.com/story/mone...ry-charging-station-cold-chicago/72252874007/
https://www.usatoday.com/story/opin...r-not-charging-ev-infrastructure/72256166007/
https://www.usatoday.com/videos/new...left-stranded-as-stations-freeze/72257954007/

 

[y_p_w]

Correct. This is not a fault of battery power.

It may be a matter of being battery powered and have all these these little things that draw power.

Certainly for storing for a few weeks in a parking lot, there's the question of whether or not to leave these little things on. There's a certain benefit to leaving Sentry Mode on with a Tesla or similar on other vehicles, but that obviously draws power. And the rest is always on.

If I were to leave an EV parked for days, I'd like to leave it plugged in if possible, even if it's just something like a Level 1 charger. That could be fairly affordable as a parking amenity since it would limit the cost of equipment as well as the cost of electricity. I can't seem to find Level 1 systems other than ones designed to be plugged in, but I could see a market for hardwired setups similar to a Tesla Wall Connector or the like.

 

[Torrid]

Bunch of post mortem on this online if the anyone here wants to learn how this happened, but most aren't interested in knowing.

It's a bit like the Madonna Inn " EV charging crisis".

I rode around all that weekend in Model 3 cabs and even posted a pict - no problems. It's a crappy cab, but thats a different story.

That back seat does leave some to be desired. Room is ok to an extent depending on height, but it's a place to sit and that about covers it. It has heated rear seats but you have to ask the driver to activate them, there's no button in the back for them. The back of the console doesn't look too special either. The kids are comfortable in our car, but we're not trying to make money chauffeuring them around. They both prefer my GTI, but I think that's more because of the noise and power being tuned.

 

[Torrid]

Not an opinion. RE the Leaf, you are speaking of a brand differences, not EV ownership. Up until this big freeze the vast majority of EV owners were "all in" all the time on EV ownership. Some were at cult level.

Reality is sinking in for some, now.

I think you're contrived more of this in your head than actually reading facts on the matter.

 

[Astro14]

Thats laughable. Its ALL over the media. Even the Houston TV news all had the stories.

ICE owners with old batteries? Seriously? 30 min. at WalMart, or DIY for 15 min. and you are good for 5+ years. No "conditioning" required. Zero comparison to all the EV woes.

Here is USA Today

https://www.usatoday.com/story/mone...ry-charging-station-cold-chicago/72252874007/
https://www.usatoday.com/story/opin...r-not-charging-ev-infrastructure/72256166007/
https://www.usatoday.com/videos/new...left-stranded-as-stations-freeze/72257954007/

I think the reason it’s all over the media, is that owners failed to understand, exactly, the capabilities and limitations of the car they purchased under adverse conditions.

We are a group of car guys, and to us, the capabilities and limitations are an area of active interest. So naturally, we don’t enter into big decisions, like the purchase of an automobile, without detailed research, and careful understanding of exactly what it is that we’re buying. At least most of us don’t…

But, folks, I have news for you; the rest of the world ain’t like us!

I mean, let’s be honest, a lot of people buy cars on the basis of emotion. They don’t really understand what they’re getting into. They haven’t really analyzed all the pros and cons, or read through the detailed literature. How many of them have ever, ever, opened the owners manual on a car they bought?

Now, these ordinary owners, are caught by surprise. They didn’t know that this would happen in the cold. They call up their friends, it becomes “buzz“, they call up their friends in the media, and start complaining. And so the media thinks “hey, here’s a story!”

But I would argue that: it is less a story of the failure of EV and more a story of the failure of owners to understand what they were buying.

And, either way, the news media is not here to accurately report the facts, they are here to generate your interest, and if they can do it with a sensational twist, then they will twist it in order to gain your interest.

They exist to get you to tune in, open up, or click.

 

[y_p_w]

That back seat does leave some to be desired. Room is ok to an extent depending on height, but it's a place to sit and that about covers it. It has heated rear seats but you have to ask the driver to activate them, there's no button in the back for them. The back of the console doesn't look too special either. The kids are comfortable in our car, but we're not trying to make money chauffeuring them around. They both prefer my GTI, but I think that's more because of the noise and power being tuned.

I thought the Highland was slated for a rear touchscreen. That would be nice but I'm not sure what the ergonomics will be like. In the back of the center console might be awkward, and I don't think they can drop it from the roof unless they abandon the one-piece glass.

 

[alarmguy]

More networks than FOX were reporting it. EV charging issues also recently made the front page of Long Island's Newsday, although it wasn't weather related IIRC.

Yes, you are correct/ Its completely laughable to those who try to divert a complete disaster regarding EVs and blame the source reporting it. Unbelievable, Im getting good at ignoring it, most times.

 

[gfh77665]

I think you're contrived more of this in your head than actually reading facts on the matter.

If you don't think EV's took a big black eye this week, more power (LOL) to ya'!

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

Thats laughable. Its ALL over the media. Even the Houston TV news all had the stories.

ICE owners with old batteries? Seriously? 30 min. at WalMart, or DIY for 15 min. and you are good for 5+ years. No "conditioning" required. Zero comparison to all the EV woes.

Here is USA Today

https://www.usatoday.com/story/mone...ry-charging-station-cold-chicago/72252874007/
https://www.usatoday.com/story/opin...r-not-charging-ev-infrastructure/72256166007/
https://www.usatoday.com/videos/new...left-stranded-as-stations-freeze/72257954007/

Again. As I said, ICE owners with dead batteries isn't a news story but we all know it happens and happens a lot with cold snaps.