Capacity loss with temperature
Gentlemen,
Is there some sort of table, or a general rule of thumb, about the battery's capacity loss with decreasing temperature?
I live in suburban Chicago, and I'm trying to learn some of the eccentricities of a battery-fueled vehicle. I shudder to think about a dead EV battery in a cold snap.
Since most Tesla vehicles are driven in California, in a very moderate climate, I wonder how the Midwestern Winters will affect the existing battery vehicles. I've not encountered any published real-world experiences about a Tesla road test that mentioned loss of capacity in very cold weather.
Thanks!
Is there some sort of table, or a general rule of thumb, about the battery's capacity loss with decreasing temperature?
I live in suburban Chicago, and I'm trying to learn some of the eccentricities of a battery-fueled vehicle. I shudder to think about a dead EV battery in a cold snap.
Since most Tesla vehicles are driven in California, in a very moderate climate, I wonder how the Midwestern Winters will affect the existing battery vehicles. I've not encountered any published real-world experiences about a Tesla road test that mentioned loss of capacity in very cold weather.
Thanks!
0
Comments
You guys need more superchargers out there, especially up north!
> You guys need more superchargers out there, especially up north!
I was thinking that exact same thing yesterday - I hope Tesla realizes this - it would make a huge impact on Tesla adoption in the colder climate areas.
shortest and easiest answer assume 30-40% reduction in range in the coldest climates.
Having said that, there are so many contributing factors that can greatly effect your range, your environment and driving habits will dictate.
Within weeks you will see your consumption pattern develop.
> You guys need more superchargers out there, especially up north!
Agree!!!
I am in CT, now in my 7th winter, don't worry about it. What is your typical day's drive, miles wise?
I'm currently dipping a toe into the EV pool, sort of. I'm researching a full-on EV while driving a Ford Fusion Energie PHEV. Last Summer, my dashboard told me that with a fully charged traction battery (9.0 kW-h) I had 35 miles of range... which suited my driving perfectly. Most of my driving is within my own town, so the 35-mile capacity worked quite well; I could charge the car overnight and be ready for whatever the day threw at me. Then Winter arrived, and my expected range dropped to 17 - 18 on a fully charged battery. Being new at the EV game, I'm wondering if the range drop is from the increased electrical load (lights, heater, defrosters, etc.) or from temperature degradation of the battery.
My other concern is how to handle a vacation trip... say a thousand-mile jaunt? Are there sufficient charging facilities available? We have a couple of charging locations locally (one Tesla, another Electrify America, I think) but until charging locations are as ubiquitous as gas stations, it's going to be a concern.
Check out:
https://www.tesla.com/findus?bounds=66.4597695498108%2C-66.307618375%2C-2.418511966974923%2C-132.225587125&zoom=3&filters=supercharger
It’s a good idea to plot out public charging on regular routes, mountains, coast, etc. that you could hop from charger to charger at 30% off the rated range.