Winter is Coming: Tips and Tricks to get the most from your EV

[AllenXS]

what is this “below freezing” you speak of???‍

In Canada we talk of above freezing for the few months of summer when it happens.

Sponsored

 

[Mirak]

Let us just accept the fact that almost all EVs (especially those without a heat pump) are simply going to lose a ton of range to the cold in winters and do well the rest of the year. The current generation of EVs don’t do well in the cold. Not going to change for a while.

I am NOT belittling the original post. Those are really good tips. But whenever an EV maker tells me to think about switching off cabin heating and use seat heaters (that don’t even exist for the rear seats in many EVs)…I call that paying through our noses for electric cars for compromised comfort. We already have enough inconveniences being early adopters of EV as it is. Yes, I still consider all of us as early adopters of EVs (Tesla and non Tesla).

I know it is easier said than done, but instead of posting these tips which will save maybe a few miles of range, I want to challenge the EV industry to put some more research into making their EVs winter-friendly if EVs need to see more mass acceptance, instead of focusing on fart sounds and frunk buttons. Not everywhere is California weather. Address real issues first.

Maybe start with a heat pump that has proven to be fairly beneficial I keep hearing?

Use of the heater is not the biggest cause of winter range reduction, and a heat pump add only marginal benefit in a select temperature range.

The research is already being done on making EVs winter friendly, and addressing other range, charging speed, and cost issues, too. It’s called solid state battery technology.

That’s the future. Not a heat pump.

 

[A-A-Ron]

The best way to keep warm – If equipped, use the heated seats and steering wheel as primary heat to reduce energy consumed by HVAC.

 

[stealthytolkien]

Use of the heater is not the biggest cause of winter range reduction, and a heat pump add only marginal benefit in a select temperature range.

The research is already being done on making EVs winter friendly, and addressing other range, charging speed, and cost issues, too. It’s called solid state battery technology.

That’s the future. Not a heat pump.

That’s super helpful to learn. Thank you for sharing!

 

[67 Stang Convertible]

I just watched Kyle's review of the Kia EV 9. It has a manual "precondition battery" button and a heat pump. It makes a point to say that it is great, as many of us use Apple Car Play for our route guidance and not native navigation.

I rarely use Ford's navigation unless on a road trip for that specific purpose. btw, that big a** 3 row suv (think Telluride) drove 266 miles (4 hours) partially at or below freezing in his highway range test.

In addition, if Ford's Native Navigation is a "Connected Service" and I decide not to renew it this year (July for me I think). How do I precondition my battery on a road trip? Is this Ford's way of insuring we keep paying for services or an oversight?

 

[Space_Pony]

I just watched Kyle's review of the Kia EV 9. It has a manual "precondition battery" button and a heat pump. It makes a point to say that it is great, as many of us use Apple Car Play for our route guidance and not native navigation.

I rarely use Ford's navigation unless on a road trip for that specific purpose. btw, that big a** 3 row suv (think Telluride) drove 266 miles (4 hours) partially at or below freezing in his highway range test.

In addition, if Ford's Native Navigation is a "Connected Service" and I decide not to renew it this year (July for me I think). How do I precondition my battery on a road trip? Is this Ford's way of insuring we keep paying for services or an oversight?

It seems that Ford does not feel it is necessary to precondition your battery. I couldn't find anything in my manual about it. I guess it is just an accessory.

 

[67 Stang Convertible]

It seems that Ford does not feel it is necessary to precondition your battery. I couldn't find anything in my manual about it. I guess it is just an accessory.

The only way to precondition your battery in the MME is to set the native navigation to a DCFC destination. I'm hoping now that the South Koreans are introducing a Manual button, the rest of the auto manufacturers will follow suit.

 

[Fixbear]

Just in case Ford is listening... I'd like to echo others who have asked for a "Precondition Now" button in the app. This would be very handy for those of us in colder climates.

Allowing the car to precondition without being plugged in (provided the battery has enough charge) would also be helpful from time to time.

In general, making the entire "departure time" settings and menu more flexible would be very helpful. Now that it's winter, this would probably be my top wish for a software update in the car and app.

I second this. We normally don't get anywhere near the bottom with charge, but we do have to deal with cold, snow, and ice. Preconditioning helps a lot with thawing out the windows and doors. But when we are out and the car is parked for 4 to 5 hours, That's when it would be a great help. The weather is just something I can't control yet.

 

[zakth]

I agree with many others, while the scheduled precondition feature is nice, it would be great to have an on-demand option to condition the vehicle. I also own a Ioniq 6 and with that I can set the climate from the app… not to mention I can get real-time images from the vehicle… not sure why Ford doesn’t allow that or even have a sentry mode…. But that’s a whole other topic.

 

[RickMachE]

I second this. We normally don't get anywhere near the bottom with charge, but we do have to deal with cold, snow, and ice. Preconditioning helps a lot with thawing out the windows and doors. But when we are out and the car is parked for 4 to 5 hours, That's when it would be a great help. The weather is just something I can't control yet.

Thawing windows and doors is Remote Start...

 

[Spike]

Just in case Ford is listening... I'd like to echo others who have asked for a "Precondition Now" button in the app. This would be very handy for those of us in colder climates.

Allowing the car to precondition without being plugged in (provided the battery has enough charge) would also be helpful from time to time.

In general, making the entire "departure time" settings and menu more flexible would be very helpful. Now that it's winter, this would probably be my top wish for a software update in the car and app.

question, why wouldn't the "start" button in the app be the equivalent of this?

 

[the golden eel]

question, why wouldn't the "start" button in the app be the equivalent of this?

Unfortunately no. Remote starting the car will only warm the cabin. It does nothing to warm the high voltage battery.

 

[Space_Pony]

I second this. We normally don't get anywhere near the bottom with charge, but we do have to deal with cold, snow, and ice. Preconditioning helps a lot with thawing out the windows and doors. But when we are out and the car is parked for 4 to 5 hours, That's when it would be a great help. The weather is just something I can't control yet.

A garage is a good investment to avoid the weather.

 

[Rick65]

Theres a toggle switch in SYNC and also in FordPass. So you can set a departure schedule and then turn it on/off.

It would be nice to have a single button where you can request a pre-condition now (or near now) than going through setting a schedule for a one time use.

Sponsored