Best strategy for heating cabin while at rest stop

[Waynebo20]

I would like to go on a long trip and sleep at times in the car with heat in cold weather. What is the best strategy for optimizing the 12 V battery usage and wear on the battery.

Also, while plugged into a 12 V NEMA charging is it possible to keep the cabin warm if sleeping for a few hours or more?

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[grein002]

If you are running the heat, the car has to be in the ON setting, which means the HV battery is connected, running the heat and other accessories, and charging the 12V battery. How long you can do this depends on SOC, heat setting, outside temp, etc., but the heater in your model draws a max of 5KW, so you can divide that into remaining HV battery charge to get an idea.

If you meant 120V NEMA charger, you should be able to run heat on "shore" power indefinitely if the charger can supply at least 5KW.

 

[B177y]

Just leave the car "running". Turn off the center screen and headlights, kick back, and sleep away....

Your question about "12 V NEMA charging" doesn't make sense to me. If you mean that you are on a level 2 or level 1 charger, same advice as above.

 

[Maquis]

If you meant 120V NEMA charger, you should be able to run heat on "shore" power indefinitely if the charger can supply at least 5KW.

No…..120V charging is 12A max which is 1.44KW.

 

[grein002]

my bad, was thinking 240V charging

 

[JohnFoxeSheets]

One more thing I've not seen in this thread yet: you need to turn off the auto-shutdown feature each time you want to keep the car on for more than 30 minutes. It's in vehicle settings...

 

[Maquis]

I think if I was to nap at a rest stop that had 120V available, I‘d use a space heater.

 

[ipca204]

I think if I was to nap at a rest stop that had 120V available, I‘d use a space heater.

i think I would just get a room....lol

 

[DeltaDelta]

I think if I was to nap at a rest stop that had 120V available, I‘d use a space heater.

How would you get the cable into the car? Open window?
Also would be worried about burning something.

 

[Mach-Lee]

I would like to go on a long trip and sleep at times in the car with heat in cold weather. What is the best strategy for optimizing the 12 V battery usage and wear on the battery.

Also, while plugged into a 12 V NEMA charging is it possible to keep the cabin warm if sleeping for a few hours or more?

Leave the car on, disable auto shutdown timer, and bring some small towels to cover the screens and block the light. Car can run like this for days.

 

[B177y]

One more thing I've not seen in this thread yet: you need to turn off the auto-shutdown feature each time you want to keep the car on for more than 30 minutes. It's in vehicle settings...

I forgot about that timer. I disabled the shutdown timer in my Lightning with ForScan, don't know if that's available for the MME.

 

[Maquis]

How would you get the cable into the car? Open window?
Also would be worried about burning something.

Common sense would certainly be required.

 

[Waynebo20]

Just leave the car "running". Turn off the center screen and headlights, kick back, and sleep away....

Your question about "12 V NEMA charging" doesn't make sense to me. If you mean that you are on a level 2 or level 1 charger, same advice as above.

This is an additional add on question, If I should pull into an RV or rest stop with 220V 50 A I could use my charger to charge for hours while sleeping, but I am not sure if this is safe for the car.

 

[B177y]

This is an additional add on question, If I should pull into an RV or rest stop with 220V 50 A I could use my charger to charge for hours while sleeping, but I am not sure if this is safe for the car.

Totally safe.

The main consideration is if the RV park allows EV charging from their electrical pedastalls as some older parks have questionable electrical infrastructure. That's the only unsafe part. Verify with park staff prior to arrival.

 

[DonM]

Would it be so hard for Ford to implement a Camping mode? All it would do is do what you guys have figured out.

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