As freezing temperatures hit North Texas, EV owners are advised to winterize their vehicles due to reduced range and slower charging times. The article discusses how cold weather impacts EV batteries, slowing chemical reactions and affecting performance and charging speeds.
People charge their Tesla cars outside Esports Stadium Arlington after a band of sleet dropped about 2 inches in Arlington, Texas , January 31, 2023.As North Texans bundle up in anticipation of freezing overnight temperatures, they may also need to winterize their cars.
That includes electric vehicles, which make up a growing share of cars in Texas.. Many of Texas’ EV owners live in Dallas-Fort Worth, with almost 37% of the state’s EVs registered in the region, followed by Houston with around 25% and Austin with a little over 19%, as of Jan. 20,EVs are often touted for cutting fuel costs and reducing carbon emissions. But they tend to struggle in cold weather: Freezing temperatures can slow charging and reduce performance, which has Here’s what happens to your EV during the North Texas cold and how to prepare your car to get the most out of it.An exterior view of Gigafactory Texas, Tesla’s automotive manufacturing facility being constructed along Texas State Highway 130 at Tesla Rd. in Austin, Texas, Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2021.the chemical reactions in these batteries, with the lithium ions moving more sluggishly through the electrolyte liquid. The batteries therefore can’t release as much energy, which cuts down their range and sometimes drains them faster.The same chemical slowdown affects charging. In colder temperatures, batteries can’t take in electricity as quickly, so charging takes longer. That’s especially noticeable at fast-charging stations, where EVs often need to warm the battery before they can charge at top speed., depending on conditions. An EV that can go 100 miles on a single charge at 70 degrees Fahrenheit may travel only about 59 to 75 miles in freezing weather, Inside Climate News Ritesh Kumar of Arlington charges his Tesla Model 3 outside Esports Stadium Arlington after a band of sleet dropped about 2 inches in Arlington, Texas, January 31, 2023., heat pumps can extend a vehicle’s range by about 10% at 32 degrees Fahrenheit, making them an important consideration for drivers in colder climates.The most important step is to heat your EV before you drive or fast-charge. Warming the battery — often for about 15 minutes — can improve performance, speed up charging and reduce strain on the battery in frigid weather. If possible, keep the car plugged in while the battery warms so the energy used comes from the grid,A line of cars waits for a charging station at the Tesla Supercharger on North Central Expressway near Walnut Hill on Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2021, in Dallas.In cold weather, EV drivers may need to adjust their charging habits to protect range and avoid falling short of power. Instead of stopping at 80% for daily use, charge closer to 100% on especially frigid days because more energy is spent keeping the battery and cabin warm,. It also helps to plan charging stops in advance — and have backup options — since stations can be busier and range estimates can drop faster than expected.— a feature that lets an EV slow down, and sometimes stop, just by lifting the foot off the accelerator — to reduce the risk of sudden deceleration on slick roads. Use Snow/Winter mode to soften throttle response and reduce wheel spin. Eco mode and Tesla’s Chill mode can also help with conserving energy.Miriam Fauzia is a science reporting fellow at The Dallas Morning News. Her fellowship is supported by the University of Texas at Dallas. The News makes all editorial decisions.Couldn’t go to the store? Here are expired foods you can still eat during the winter stormDo your joints hurt during winter weather? Here’s why — and what you can doMiriam has previously written for USA Today, The Daily Beast, Inverse, The New York Times and others. She holds a master's degree in immunology from the University of Oxford and another master's in journalism from Boston University.Live updates: When will ice melt? Record snowfall ends Monday, road conditions still poor
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