[ad_1]
It’s pretty well known that cold weather has a negative effect on lithium-ion batteries in electric vehicles like the Ford F-150 Lightning. In a press release, Ford said, “Temperatures below 40°F cause the electrolyte fluid to become sluggish, limiting how much electricity is available to discharge and how quickly the battery can charge of the car. As F-150 Lightning customers across the United States and Canada begin their first winter in their new electric pickup, Ford wants to help inform them that in low temperatures they will see a significant reduction in range, which is normal .”
For the combustion engine lovers out there, wipe the smug look off your faces. Cold weather significantly reduces gas mileage for you. In most parts of the country, gasoline is blended with lighter aromatics to improve cold weather starting, but those winter blends also reduce fuel economy by about 10%. In addition, electronic injection systems are programmed to increase the ratio of fuel to air in cold weather for smoother engine operation. Overall, most drivers notice a reduction in gas mileage between 10 and 20% in the winter.
Ford offers 8 tips to reduce the impact of cold weather on the performance of its F-150 Lightning pickup trucks.
- 1. Park your F-150 Lightning in a garage whenever possible.
- 2. Keep your F-150 Lightning plugged in when parked.
- 3. If planning a longer commute, precondition your vehicle with departure times to warm up the battery while plugged in by using the FordPass app or your trucks center screen.
- 4. If equipped, use heated seats and steering wheel as primary heat to reduce energy consumed by HVAC.
- 5. When charging, turn off the heater if possible, or lower the temperature enough to stay comfortable. (Especially when using DCFC)
- 6. If your F-150 Lightning is covered in snow, remove all snow before driving to eliminate excess weight and drag.
- 7. Keep driving speed moderate in cold temperatures because high speed uses more energy.
- 8. Make sure your tires are at the correct pressure.
Nothing scary in that list, just practical advice that will become standard operating procedure for all EV drivers in the near future.
The main recommendations are to keep your car plugged in so that the electricity from your home charger can be used to warm up the passenger compartment and the battery pack before you start driving. Many people who drive diesel-powered cars and trucks do the same thing by keeping their engine heaters on overnight when it’s cold outside. Diesel fuel really doesn’t like the cold, which is why some long haul drivers prefer to keep their engines idling rather than shutting them off when parked in cold weather.
Other important advice is to use seat and steering wheel heaters whenever possible rather than relying on cabin heaters which consume a lot of battery power. As a Nissan LEAF veteran who used to live in freezing New England, I can attest that this tactic works well until the thermometer drops below 20º F or so.
Ford says it has extensively tested the F-150 Lightning both in temperatures as low as -40ºF and as high as 140ºF, so it knows a thing or two about operating electric vehicles in extreme temperatures. The best part of its 8 tips is that they apply equally to all EVs, so even if you don’t have an F-150 Lightning in your driveway, you can apply Ford’s advice to your own electric car experience.
Appreciate CleanTechnica’s originality and cleantech news coverage? Consider becoming a CleanTechnica Member, Supporter, Technician, or Ambassador — or a patron on Patreon.
Don’t want to miss a cleantech story? Sign up for daily news updates from CleanTechnica by email. Or follow us on Google News!
Have a tip for CleanTechnica, want to advertise, or want to suggest a guest for our CleanTech Talk podcast? Contact us here.
[ad_2]
Source link
