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I live in a region where -40°C is not unheard of (it happens every winter and stays for up to several weeks). I've also been to another region (not far off) whe

I live in a region where -40°C is not unheard of (it happens every winter and stays for up to several weeks). I've also been to another region (not far off) where -50°C is pretty typical. Gasoline powered engines work just fine in these temperatures, although many cars come with auto ignition systems that start up the engine periodically throughout the night to keep it warm. Otherwise you might have to warm it yourself in the morning using a gasoline powered "torch" (or whatever it's called), which sometimes ends up with the car going up in flames. So it's honestly pretty funny to read that EV work "down to -10°C". Although probably relatively few of us are desperate enough to be living in such conditions.

recursive 2y ago
They work down to -10. And colder than that too. Apologies to Mitch Hedberg.
- lazide 2y ago
  Only if they have the ability to stop charging if the battery pack is below freezing, and some way to heat the pack (and keep it) above freezing. Otherwise, charging in those temps will destroy the battery.
  - recursive 2y ago
    I think that's everything but the Nissan Leaf.
    - idiotsecant 2y ago
      Leaf can heat the pack, just no cooling
lupusreal 2y ago
Stock gasoline cars do not do well at those temperatures. In Alaska most people with sense use engine block heaters, plugging in every cold night. Besides the issue of having trouble just starting the car, you will put excessive wear and tear on the engine doing it regularly. And in places like Fairbanks where -40 (F/C) is fairly common in the winter, even cars that merely have an engine block heater will have trouble. You need even more heating pads for the rest of the stuff under the hood of you want to keep a car reliable and healthy in that kind of climate.
- lazide 2y ago
  Yes, and even then ‘healthy’ is not what people in normal climates think. It puts a lot of wear and tear on vehicles.

recursive 2y ago

They work down to -10. And colder than that too. Apologies to Mitch Hedberg.

lazide 2y ago
Only if they have the ability to stop charging if the battery pack is below freezing, and some way to heat the pack (and keep it) above freezing. Otherwise, charging in those temps will destroy the battery.
- recursive 2y ago
  I think that's everything but the Nissan Leaf.
  - idiotsecant 2y ago
    Leaf can heat the pack, just no cooling

lupusreal 2y ago

Stock gasoline cars do not do well at those temperatures. In Alaska most people with sense use engine block heaters, plugging in every cold night. Besides the issue of having trouble just starting the car, you will put excessive wear and tear on the engine doing it regularly. And in places like Fairbanks where -40 (F/C) is fairly common in the winter, even cars that merely have an engine block heater will have trouble. You need even more heating pads for the rest of the stuff under the hood of you want to keep a car reliable and healthy in that kind of climate.

lazide 2y ago
Yes, and even then ‘healthy’ is not what people in normal climates think. It puts a lot of wear and tear on vehicles.