Electric Vehicle Owners' Winter
Frustration Spurs Call for Gas Car Return It's no secret that freezing weather and electric
vehicles don't get along too well. While this chilly relationship isn't breaking news, a
recent uproar began after a FOX 32 Chicago report highlighted the struggles of various Tesla drivers
trying to charge their EVs at a Tesla Supercharger in Oak Brook, Illinois. As temperatures in this
Chicago suburb dropped below zero for the first time in a while, the situation bec
ame quite dire.
Owners found themselves in a tough spot, having to tow their Teslas on flatbeds because the chargers
weren't working, and their electric vehicles had run out of juice. The TV station didn't hold
back, bluntly stating, "Public charging stations have turned into car graveyards," and referring
to depleted EVs as "dead robots." This report triggered a wave of similar stories, with Tesla
owners echoing their discontentment with the vehicles. So, what's the problem with EVs?
Join
us as we embark on a chilling journey exploring why electric vehicle owners are now
demanding the return of gas cars and how the freezing weather affects electric vehicles! The
recent issues in Chicago have made even the EV fanatics to question their love for EVs.
So, without much ado, let’s get started. Over the past week, bone-chilling temperatures
from Chicago to northern Texas have made life challenging for electric vehicle owners. They've
had to deal with reduced driving range and endu
re lengthy waits at charging stations. A notable
incident occurred in Oak Brook, Illinois, near Chicago, where Teslas were running out of
battery while waiting in long lines for a plug at a Supercharger station. The temperature
had plummeted to a teeth-chattering minus 9 Fahrenheit (-23 Celsius).
In the outskirts of Ann Arbor, Michigan, the scene was no different. With the wind howling and
the temperature at a frosty 7 degrees Fahrenheit, Teslas were slowly stacking up at six out of
eight c
harging stations. One driver was on the verge of running out of battery while waiting
in line, highlighting the challenges faced by electric vehicle owners during this icy spell.
It's a widely known fact that electric vehicles (EVs) experience a reduction in range in cold
weather, especially during subzero temperatures like the recent chill that swept across the
nation's midsection. However, no one expected it to be this bad. Studies indicate that the range
loss can vary from 10% to 36%. Add
itionally, EVs don't charge as swiftly in extreme cold
conditions. In fact, some Tesla owners near Chicago reported to journalists that
their cars wouldn't charge at all. The inner workings of EV batteries involve
lithium ions moving through a liquid electrolyte, generating electricity. However, in colder
temperatures, these ions move more slowly through the electrolyte and release less energy,
affecting the overall range and accelerating battery depletion. Sluggish movement of electrons
i
n cold weather means the battery can't accept as much electricity from a charging plug,
leading to a slowdown in charging. The challenge arises when temperatures drop, as
batteries need to be warm enough for electrons to move, and this requirement becomes even more
critical at fast-charging stations like those used by Tesla. Despite these challenges, experts
suggest that with some foresight and minor adjustments, EV owners can still navigate through
cold weather and maintain relatively norm
al travel capabilities. But is it worth the trouble?
At a Supercharger station in Pittsfield Township, Michigan, just south of Ann Arbor, Ankita
Bansal found her Tesla's battery with only 7% charge remaining. Plugging in, she faced a
challenge as the car refused to charge. Instead, the display indicated that the battery needed to
warm up. Once it reached the right temperature, the display estimated an hour and 50
minutes to achieve a full charge. Bruce Westlake, president of the Eastern
Mic
higan Electric Vehicle Association, shared insights, noting that most EVs are
designed to warm the battery if the driver notifies the vehicle's navigation system about
an impending trip to the charging station. According to Westlake, in freezing temperatures,
it can take around half an hour to warm up the battery enough for it to be ready for charging.
While preconditioning the battery does incur a slight loss in range, usually just a few miles,
it proves essential in cold weather condition
s. Bansal, who recently acquired her Tesla, wasn't
initially aware of the preconditioning process but has learned about it the hard way.
Cold temperatures can significantly impact the range of electric vehicles, and it's not just
limited to freezing conditions. In extreme cases, an EV's range can drop by 30% or more due to
increased resistance in the battery cells, affecting the overall efficiency and
performance of the battery pack. The cold affects the battery anode's ability
to capture l
ithium ions, leading to a process called coating, where these ions tend to
accumulate on the anode's surface. While most of this coating diminishes through battery
use, it doesn't entirely disappear, accumulating over time and impacting battery performance.
This accumulation is noticeable as a decrease in the battery's capacity. As temperatures rise,
the lithium coating around the anode reduces, and you'll observe an increase in the
battery's capacity. In freezing conditions, an electric car
's battery monitoring
system and thermal management system, typically centered around a heat pump, work
tirelessly. Their goal is not only to provide the maximum possible range but also to prevent
damage to the battery. So, in cold weather, these systems are in overdrive to optimize performance
and protect the battery from adverse effects. For optimal operation, an EV's lithium-ion
battery pack prefers temperatures between 68°F and 113°F (20°C and 45°C). If the outside
temperature falls be
low 68°F, the vehicle expends electricity to warm the pack and maintain the
desired temperature. It's essential to note that this warming process occurs even when
the EV is turned off. Leaving your EV parked outside on a very cold night without plugging
it in can result in significant range loss. Recent data from battery health startup
Recurrent Auto, based on testing over 10,000 cars representing the 18 most popular electric models
in the US, reveals that EVs retained approximately 70.3% o
f their range in freezing temperatures.
Some models outperformed the average, with the Audi e-tron losing only 16% of its range in
winter, making it the top performer in the study. On the other hand, the Volkswagen ID.4 exhibited
the weakest performance, losing a substantial 46% of its range under such chilly conditions.
Another factor contributing to reduced range during cold-weather EV driving is
the transition from summer to winter tires. With distinct rubber compounds and tread
patterns
, winter tires generate higher rolling resistance, leading to a decrease in range.
Regularly monitoring tire pressure in winter is crucial, as it can fluctuate based on external
conditions. Underinflated tires can further impact efficiency. Michelin highlights that rolling
resistance has the potential to diminish an EV's range by up to 20 percent. Moreover, a 30 percent
rise in rolling resistance can result in a 3 to 5 percent increase in electricity consumption.
Some tire manufacturers, such
as Michelin, Hankook, or Nokian, have introduced EV-specific
winter tires to address this issue. These tires aim to strike a better balance between grip and
rolling resistance, enabling electric cars to cover more distance in winter without compromising
safety. But as you can see, during the winter, EV owners are struggling with less juice,
more expenses, and lots of frustrations. And if you thought that was enough, there are
numerous other problems with EVs during winter. Transitioning fr
om a traditional internal
combustion engine (ICE) vehicle to an electric vehicle (EV) may bring a surprising
change—less inherent heat generation as you drive. In a combustion car, the engine
produces ample heat, enough to warm the cabin without much concern for its impact
on efficiency or range, unlike in an EV. EVs equipped with heat pumps harness some
waste heat generated by electric motors and other components, using a portion to heat
the cabin. However, this may not suffice, leading t
o the activation of a resistance heater
to ensure a warm cabin on cold winter days. When you turn on the heater in an EV, even one
with a heat pump, you'll instantly observe a drop in the predicted range. Polestar notes that
outside temperatures alone can reduce the range of its EVs by 10 to 12 percent. However,
if you use the climate system as well, this reduction can climb to 41 percent.
Another problem that people clearly ignore is the effect of the cold on regenerative braking.
A clear
indicator of your electric vehicle's battery not being at its optimal temperature is
the regenerative braking capability. Some EVs can regenerate well over 100 kW (with examples
like the Rimac Nevera reaching up to 300 kW or the Porsche Taycan at 290 kW), but when the
battery is cold and can't efficiently accept power from the motors, the vehicle reduces the
rate of recuperation until the battery goes empty if not charged. During the last few weeks of
freezing temperatures in Chicago, most
drivers have experienced EV frustration at its best,
and a recent survey by FOX 32 shows that most EV owners would not buy an EV as their second car.
So, what are your thoughts on electric vehicles? Are you ready to jump on the EV bandwagon yet?
Share your experiences in the comments below, and don't forget to give this video a thumbs up.
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content. Until our next video, happy driving!
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