3 ms·

I don't want to be That Guy[1], but an EV can run the climate control, warm the car and defrost the windows with absolutely no maintenance worries at all. Tesl

by ajross 4y ago

I don't want to be That Guy[1], but an EV can run the climate control, warm the car and defrost the windows with absolutely no maintenance worries at all. Teslas can do it remotely while you sip your coffee or pack up your ski gear. [1] I totally want to be That Guy

mise_en_place 4y ago
The cold still damages your EV’s battery. It is still, after all, a lithium ion battery.
- voisin 4y ago
  The battery is heated to avoid that damage though. Nothing does this in an ICE car.
  - sebastien_b 4y ago
    Some ICE cars have block heaters for this similar purpose.
  - foepys 4y ago
    While true, how long can the car heat the batteries before it's practically unusable because the battery has depleted so much you need to charge it again before driving to work? Not everybody has a charging port at home, especially in Europe.
    - Gigachad 4y ago
      Since you likely have it plugged in while it’s at home. Perpetually.
      - cuu508 4y ago
        What is the approx. power draw when the car is plugged in, fully charged, and the ambient temperature is around freezing?
    - lazide 4y ago
      Heating a 75kw battery up from -17F to 77F uses about 3kwh. So about 3-4%. This is not a significant concern, frankly.
    - ggreer 4y ago
      I lost a couple percent per day when leaving my car parked in 10°F weather. It’s about the same as enabling sentry mode. If the car is plugged in– even to a typical 120V wall plug– it’ll charge and warm the battery even in single digit temps.
cactusplant7374 4y ago
I am the guy that preheats his Honda to perfection. I will fly like a bat out of hell out of my front door in my boxers to start the car and run back inside to get ready for another 30 minutes. Yes, I am a total badass. I’m not worried about maintenance because that is a fact of life. For Tesla’s too (mostly defects). If your car breaks down shortly after you start driving it and the cabin is ice cold you’re in trouble. At least in a rural area.
- bombcar 4y ago
  This is a real important point - many drivers in the cold aren’t dressed for it at all and though even many rural roads will have someone pass by relatively soon a warm car is going to be nicer. Of course anyone driving in freezing areas should have winter survival gear but who actually does?
  - cactusplant7374 4y ago
    Also, wearing heavy jackets in a car is just damn uncomfortable.
    - bombcar 4y ago
      Especially since about ten minutes in you’ll be boiling and opening the window.
  - stephencanon 4y ago
    Since having kids, always. I’m not particularly fussed about my comfort, but I really don’t want to have to walk a couple miles carrying an underdressed two-year-old (or leave them in the car).
- sammalloy 4y ago
  > I will fly like a bat out of hell out of my front door in my boxers to start the car and run back inside to get ready for another 30 minutes. You might want to look into a remote starter accessory. I had it in my last vehicle to start the AC (I live in a warm climate).

by ajross 4y ago

mise_en_place 4y ago

The cold still damages your EV’s battery. It is still, after all, a lithium ion battery.

voisin 4y ago
The battery is heated to avoid that damage though. Nothing does this in an ICE car.
- sebastien_b 4y ago
  Some ICE cars have block heaters for this similar purpose.
- foepys 4y ago
  While true, how long can the car heat the batteries before it's practically unusable because the battery has depleted so much you need to charge it again before driving to work? Not everybody has a charging port at home, especially in Europe.
  - Gigachad 4y ago
    Since you likely have it plugged in while it’s at home. Perpetually.
    - cuu508 4y ago
      What is the approx. power draw when the car is plugged in, fully charged, and the ambient temperature is around freezing?
  - lazide 4y ago
    Heating a 75kw battery up from -17F to 77F uses about 3kwh. So about 3-4%. This is not a significant concern, frankly.
  - ggreer 4y ago
    I lost a couple percent per day when leaving my car parked in 10°F weather. It’s about the same as enabling sentry mode. If the car is plugged in– even to a typical 120V wall plug– it’ll charge and warm the battery even in single digit temps.

cactusplant7374 4y ago

I am the guy that preheats his Honda to perfection. I will fly like a bat out of hell out of my front door in my boxers to start the car and run back inside to get ready for another 30 minutes. Yes, I am a total badass. I’m not worried about maintenance because that is a fact of life. For Tesla’s too (mostly defects). If your car breaks down shortly after you start driving it and the cabin is ice cold you’re in trouble. At least in a rural area.

bombcar 4y ago
This is a real important point - many drivers in the cold aren’t dressed for it at all and though even many rural roads will have someone pass by relatively soon a warm car is going to be nicer. Of course anyone driving in freezing areas should have winter survival gear but who actually does?
- cactusplant7374 4y ago
  Also, wearing heavy jackets in a car is just damn uncomfortable.
  - bombcar 4y ago
    Especially since about ten minutes in you’ll be boiling and opening the window.
- stephencanon 4y ago
  Since having kids, always. I’m not particularly fussed about my comfort, but I really don’t want to have to walk a couple miles carrying an underdressed two-year-old (or leave them in the car).
sammalloy 4y ago
> I will fly like a bat out of hell out of my front door in my boxers to start the car and run back inside to get ready for another 30 minutes. You might want to look into a remote starter accessory. I had it in my last vehicle to start the AC (I live in a warm climate).