Give up charging during winter?

This past week our average temperature was -4, my point that just puts everything in reverse. EV’s just aren’t ideal in extreme climates for that reason. 3.5-4 months of frigid temps and snow.

 

Neither are traditional vehicles.

That's why a plug-in hybrid makes such an nice choice. It provides a means of reducing losses... unless you give up charging.

Also, single-digit/sub-zero temperatures only last a few weeks. The rest of the winter, you'll still see outstanding efficiency.

 

Our sub zero temps actually last through February. They claim that this will be one our coldest winters. That worries me for obvious reasons.

 

Yep, last few days have been brutal in the Greater Boston area. With temperatures in the single digit, even if I set the temperature at 62 degrees F, in ICE kicked in. Battery charge depleted in 15 miles or so. I have to charge it a couple of times to see if I can see a pattern here with what is going on.

JT

 

I’m with you there. Freezing and getting sick just to try and get EV miles just isn’t my cup of tea I guess. I may made a mistake here on this purchase.

 

Why are you fighting it?

Just let the engine run for heat.

The system will still take advantage of plug-supplied electricity, just not as much as in the warmer months.

There's no need. You already know why. The heat-pump has a temperature threshold of 14°F.

Anything colder than that will trigger the engine to start to supply cabin heat.
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Why? This entire week I may have gotten 25-30 EV miles total. Keep in mind that M-F I have a 19 mile round trip to work. That’s how cold it was. No matter I did EV just wouldn’t kick in. It was too cold. My point was that this is going I last through February....at least.

 

The extreme temperatures will *NOT* be continuous for that long. It just plain does not happen here in Minnesota. Your climate in Wisconsin is quite similar. We'll get ups & downs. When it hits 20, you'll see EV again...

You'll rejoice with the arrival of spring as if you were a young child reaching the end of a school year. Yippee!

 

Given the low effective mileage from a full charge of battery in this weather, it does not make economic sense to use the battery where I am based. Unless of course you are able to use a free charging station.

JT

 

If I remember from the number @bisco put up, even during warmer days, Boston residents are not going to break even using electric vs gas. So, if economic was the only consideration, you would have to find cheaper electricity or wish for higher gas price. For me, even if I can't use EV during extreme cold, PRIME purchase was economically sound. For the price of Prius One, I got far better car equivalent of Prius Three-Four.

 

Still beats anything else on the road.

 

-23? how far off average is that? i thought we had it bad, i've never seen a stretch like this.

 

I am not questioning my decision to buy the Prime. Just that the economics of charging gets really out of whack.

JT

 

no question. it's bad around here in the good weather, but even worse now. i'm barely getting 10 miles, but i wonder if the battery is taking a full charge? perhaps the cost differential between warm and cold isn't as bad as it appears.

 

Lots more HV blending than EV in the winter.

 

what does that mean john? i'm driving strictly ev, but i'm wondering if the battery takes as much charge as in warmer weather?

 

Electrical resistance increases significantly at sub-freezing temperatures... same thing we've been dealing with for many years now... without an electric heater though, which you now have to also zap away capacity.

To see the impact, measure your drive without the heat on.

 

that's the only way i can measure it. it's a pip, no heat unless the engine is running.

 

You should know better than to contribute to newbie confusion, especially after so many years here. That previous post of yours was extremely misleading.

Don't post PIP (2012-2015) information on a PRIME (2017-) thread without explicitly stating which generation you are talking about.

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sorry i blew your mind.