Featured Snow job about EV range in heat and cold

The gen 4 prius has an automatic block just before the radiator.

 

I know...but we have Gen 3's...

 

I believe it defaults to open on shut down. So it can freeze in that position.

 

All I know is that the purpose is to allow air flow to the radiator and condenser in the event it breaks during hot weather.

 

This is not true, Bob.

First of all, it simply takes more energy to push a car through the cold. Mostly this is due to increased rolling resistance.
Second, you still need heat and heat is usually more expensive to provide than cool in an EV, even if it has an ultra-efficient heat pump. This is because the delta-T in the winter can be 60 degrees F or more, while it's rarely over 20 degrees in summer.
Third, even if you pre-condition, the batteries have a very long thermal time constant because of their mass, and they will stay cold even if the air in the car is warm for 20-30 minutes.

I've tried this as recently as this week. I pre-conditioned my Prime for 30 minutes, then got in and drove to work. Still used ~70% of my battery when it takes ~50% in summer.

So, pre-conditioning can help (parking in the sun can help more because they batteries can hot-soak for hours) but it doesn't "solve the problem".

 

Altitude can trump cold weather too (often much colder when you're way up high - then down low). Park City Utah for example, at 7,000', along with charging at a Supercharger or DC/QC for an hour ..... or even on a HPWC for 2hrs, at 15kW-17kW's prior to heading out will warm a pack. We we're pleasantly surprised how much less of a hit the charge-to-warm battery trick will do. Of course if there's Icee slush on the road? well that's another tough offset .... EV or ICE.
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Also - sub zero° weather means that your non-nitrogen filled tires can be maybe 5lbs PSI lower or more -

Tire pressure and temperature | TireBuyer.com
so - during harsh Northern Winters, don't forget to check the tire pressure whether or not you're going EV or Dino juice.
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