Winter charging
What changes when it is below freezing, and how to cope.
You'll learn
- Explain winter charging clearly and accurately
- Read the numbers that define the behaviour
- Apply the idea to a real charging session
Overview
Cold weather affects range and charging speed through different mechanisms. Both are manageable once you know which is which.
In depth
Two separate problems
Range falls mostly because of cabin heating and denser air. Charging slows because cold cells have high resistance and risk lithium plating. Preconditioning fixes the second; a heat pump and seat heating soften the first.
- Precondition cabin and pack on shore power before leaving
- Route through navigation so the car warms the pack for rapid charging
- Use seat and steering-wheel heating in preference to cabin heat
- Expect 20–35% less range at −5 °C
Key takeaways
Remember this
- Cold cuts range through heating, and speed through resistance.
- Preconditioning restores charging performance.
- Expect a fifth to a third less range in hard frost.
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