this post was submitted on 17 Jan 2024
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[Dormant] Electric Vehicles

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What happens to very cold but unused batteries? (lemmy.sdf.org)
submitted 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) by ExtremeDullard@lemmy.sdf.org to c/evs@lemmy.world
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I'm considering buying an EV to replace my aging diesel. I live in a very cold country where temperatures regularly dip below -30C in the winter.

I understand that EVs lose range in cold temperatures and that they need heating to use and charge without damage.

My question is this: if I plan on not using my car for several weeks, can I leave it unplugged and/or tell it to stop managing the batteries' temperature to save energy and not damage the batteries?

I'm okay with spending half a day preheating it when I plan on using it again regularly, but I don't want it to draw current all the time for nothing when I'm away on long missions.

For some reason, I can't seem to find out if it's safe to keep a fully unpowered EV in the cold for a long time...

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[–] reddig33@lemmy.world 3 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (1 children)

Most EVs have something Iike a heat pump to keep battery temperature optimized and extend the life of the battery pack. Most EV user manuals tell you to keep the car plugged when not in use during extremely cold or hot weather. This way the batteries can be heated or cooled without draining car power. If you don’t do this, the temperature regulating system will kick in on battery power, and start to drain the batteries until there’s nothing left.

[–] ExtremeDullard@lemmy.sdf.org 2 points 10 months ago (2 children)

If you don’t do this, the temperature regulating system will kick in on battery power, and start to drain the batteries until there’s nothing left.

Can it be disabled totally - whether or not the car is plugged in? Also, are you implying that an electric car must keep its battery pack above a certain temperature to prevent damage even if it's totally unused?

The core issue for me to decide EV or no-EV is that I absolutely don't want it using any power when it's off for a long time. I don't mind taking time to "awaken" it from a deep slumber properly to avoid damaging the battery pack, and I don't mind babying it, preheating it and whatever else needs to be done when it's cold when I use it. But if it draws power for weeks on end just to avoid dying on the parking lot when I don't, that's a showstopper for me.

[–] Dudewitbow@lemmy.zip 3 points 10 months ago

you should wait for sodium battery cars then. sodium doesnt have the freezing temperature problem that liion batteries have.

[–] reddig33@lemmy.world 2 points 10 months ago

https://www.tesla.com/ownersmanual/model3/en_us/GUID-7FE78D73-0A17-47C4-B21B-54F641FFAEF4.html

“For better long-term performance, avoid exposing Model 3 to ambient temperatures above 140° F (60° C) or below -22° F (-30° C) for more than 24 hours at a time.”