How long can you idle a Mach-E in subfreezing temperatures? - One owner did a test.

[Larry Paul]

This owner did a controlled test of idling his car like it was stuck in traffic in freezing temps like what happened on I95 in VA.

https://www.insidehook.com/article/vehicles/electric-car-12-hours-freezing-cold-test

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[Logal727]

This owner did a controlled test of idling his car like it was stuck in traffic in freezing temps like what happened on I95 in VA.

https://www.insidehook.com/article/vehicles/electric-car-12-hours-freezing-cold-test

Great article! I'd usually put a TLDR in here, but I think it's a good read and worth giving him the clicks.

 

[RickMachE]

#WastingADaySittingInACar

 

[breeves002]

tl;dr is he did the test of what basic math can tell us. He used 25% of an ER battery in 12 hours of sitting in the car with the heat between 70-75ºF....

Assuming a pre-conditioned battery that's about 1.5kW average vehicle consumption.

 

[sotek2345]

Sound like a very fair test. Results were better than I would have expected keeping the heat that high!

 

[Accord07]

#WastingADaySittingInACar

and without Netflix on that big screen...

 

[RickMachE]

and without Netflix on that big screen...

And peeing into a bottle...

 

[Cat in car]

This owner did a controlled test of idling his car like it was stuck in traffic in freezing temps like what happened on I95 in VA.

https://www.insidehook.com/article/vehicles/electric-car-12-hours-freezing-cold-test

thank you -- can't tell you how many of my friends think I am crazy for getting an EV (oil country around here). They raised this question recently and now I can have a serious reply.

 

[sotek2345]

thank you -- can't tell you how many of my friends think I am crazy for getting an EV (oil country around here). They raised this question recently and now I can have a serious reply.

If they won't believe this test, I have found it easier to relate it to something they are likely more familiar with. Think about how warm a space heater (like you use in a house) would keep a car. Remind them that the Mach-e battery has enough energy to run one of those heaters for over 50 hours!

 

[MachEZRt1]

I wonder though, how many times they had to hit the recirculate button ?. One of the concerns regarding the I-95 situation was air quality from ICE exhaust. I would prefer to have the air recirculate continuously in that scenario for efficiency and in the interest of not breathing in as much exhaust.

 

[mkhuffman]

tl;dr is he did the test of what basic math can tell us. He used 25% of an ER battery in 12 hours of sitting in the car with the heat between 70-75ºF....

Assuming a pre-conditioned battery that's about 1.5kW average vehicle consumption.

Since that happened just up the road from me, it has been the subject of some debate with my non EV owning friends. I figured I could idle my car with the interior heat at 67 and manage to consume no more than 1 kW per hour. He kept his car much warmer, and he has the pano roof (I don't), so I think 1 kW per hour is easily achievable.

My car could sit there for 44 hours and still only use half the battery. That is much, much better than ICE. And I even purchased a heating blanket that only draws 45 Watts, which would allow me to keep the interior temp even lower if needed.

And no fumes to leak into the cabin and kill the occupants.

BEV beats ICE yet again!

 

[BillPitman]

Since that happened just up the road from me, it has been the subject of some debate with my non EV owning friends. I figured I could idle my car with the interior heat at 67 and manage to consume no more than 1 kW per hour. He kept his car much warmer, and he has the pano roof (I don't), so I think 1 kW per hour is easily achievable.

My car could sit there for 44 hours and still only use half the battery. That is much, much better than ICE. And I even purchased a heating blanket that only draws 45 Watts, which would allow me to keep the interior temp even lower if needed.

And no fumes to leak into the cabin and kill the occupants.

BEV beats ICE yet again!

The 12v battery is also being maintained , no....... Bill

 

[mkhuffman]

The 12v battery is also being maintained also, no....... Bill

I am confused by your comment.

 

[BillPitman]

I am confused by your comment.

There must have been some current draw on the 12v battery....?! That needs to be maintained....

 

[Motomax]

I grew up in the snow and being prepared if you got stuck was just a normal part of leaving the house. I don’t have to worry about that too much now but if I did keeping the car running wouldn’t be my main concern. It would be running out of snacks…

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