by Daphne Moon
As a brutal cold spell takes hold in the Midwest after several mild winters, electric vehicle owners are facing a major challenge as their cars turn into giant, frozen bricks. The frigid temperatures have revealed a critical vulnerability in EV technology, leaving many Chicago-area Tesla and EV users stranded and frustrated with long wait times at charging stations.
In a scene widely reported by the media, a line of dead Teslas sat motionless in the bitter winds of Chicago as their owners struggled to revive them. At one charging station in Evergreen Park, Tesla driver Brandon Welbourne expressed his frustration with the situation, saying that what should have been a 45-minute charge was taking two hours or more due to the extreme cold.
The situation was no better in the Chicago suburb of Oak Park, where WLFD-TV reported that public charging stations had turned into “car graveyards.” Tesla owner Chalis Mizelle summed up the situation, calling it “a disaster.” Another driver, Tyler Beard, attempted to charge his vehicle but was met with disappointment when his battery remained at 0% after three hours of waiting.
One EV driver described the scene as a “bunch of dead robots” to WFLD-TV. The frustration was so overwhelming for some that they ultimately gave up and had their cars towed away from the charging station. Mark Bilek of the Chicago Auto Trade Association attempted to explain the situation, stating that drivers need to use the “preconditioning” feature to warm up the battery before attempting to charge it. However, this feature requires battery power to operate, which presents a major issue if the battery is already drained.
In its defense, Tesla released a statement on its website titled “Winter driving tips,” acknowledging that cold temperatures can lead to increased energy consumption from the battery. The company claims to have made improvements to its vehicles to mitigate the effects of cold weather, such as better overall thermal performance and quicker Supercharging. They also recommend keeping the car plugged in when not in use and maintaining a charge level above 20% to reduce the impact of cold temperatures.
Unfortunately, as more than half of the country experiences record-low temperatures, EV owners across the country are learning the hard way that electric cars are not well-suited for winter driving. Unlike traditional gas-powered vehicles, which use the heat generated by the engine to warm the cabin, EVs rely on battery powerr for heating. This means that using the cabin heater can significantly drain the battery, reducing its already limited range.
As most of the country braces for an Arctic blast, electric vehicle owners are facing numerous challenges as their cars struggle to withstand the extreme cold. While Tesla and other manufacturers have attempted to make improvements to their vehicles to combat the effects of winter weather, it remains to be seen if EVs will ever be a viable option for cold-weather driving.
