Photo: @Hilbe via X
The media does not have enough horror stories involving EV owners stuck in the cold with depleted batteries. However, things are far from being that dramatic, as most EV owners know very well. One Rivian R1S owner shared his experience after his wife completed a 255-mile road trip without issues in freezing weather.
If you've been close to a TV in the past week, you've probably patted your virtual self on the back for not buying an electric vehicle. Frozen Supercharger stations, EVs stranded with zero battery, and people stuck in their cars that refused to charge were just a few of the headlines trying to scare people who might consider buying an electric vehicle. We see the same FUD (fear, uncertainty, and doubt) stories repeated every winter as if there's anything to gain from that.
Yet, millions of EV owners in the US alone are happily driving their cars in the snow, at sub-zero temperatures, and very few encountered issues. I'd say most people being caught in difficult situations are those who only recently switched to an EV or rented one and never considered it appropriate to read the manual.
Since Tesla EVs got most of the negative coverage, I can tell you that the Tesla navigation system offers not only guidance to Supercharger stations nearby but also estimates how long you'll have to wait. It's easy to pick another station nearby if you are not comfortable with the estimated wait times. This also ensures battery pre-conditioning prior to arriving at the station so that the car is properly configured for fast charging. Simply put, if you do your homework, it's impossible to see yourself in the news.
One good example was offered by a Rivian R1S owner, whose wife took a 255-mile road trip during those dreadful weather conditions that crippled the EVs at the Supercharger station in Chicago earlier this week. Not only did she return safely from the trip, but she had no complaints about the car, the charging experience, or the R1S's efficiency in the cold. It was even more impressive, considering that the Rivian SUV doesn't come with a heat pump, which means it consumes more battery to keep the cabin warm.
Since the couple also owned a Tesla Model X 90D (MY2016, also no heat pump), and they regularly drive the same route, they could compare the two EVs. Needless to say, the Rivian R1S came out a winner from this head-to-head comparison, not least because the range estimates were much more accurate. The Rivian started the trip with a projected range of 303 miles at 100% battery and still had 132 miles of range at the destination after 128 miles. This means it had a 26% efficiency loss due to the bad weather, or a range of 224 miles instead of the 303-mile estimated initially.
The Tesla Model X usually did worse on a similar trip in the winter. From the 245-mile estimated range, it would arrive at the destination with 30 remaining miles. However, the owner doesn't remember doing it in "single-digit weather" like the Rivian. Modern EVs fitted with heat pumps should have no problem dealing with extremely low temperatures without losing much range to heat the cabin. Even without it, the Rivian R1S managed the trip while consuming 155 kWh. The trip's total cost was $49 after charging 60.5 kWh at a DC fast charging station with high prices ($0.59 per kWh during off-peak hours).
Yet, millions of EV owners in the US alone are happily driving their cars in the snow, at sub-zero temperatures, and very few encountered issues. I'd say most people being caught in difficult situations are those who only recently switched to an EV or rented one and never considered it appropriate to read the manual.
Since Tesla EVs got most of the negative coverage, I can tell you that the Tesla navigation system offers not only guidance to Supercharger stations nearby but also estimates how long you'll have to wait. It's easy to pick another station nearby if you are not comfortable with the estimated wait times. This also ensures battery pre-conditioning prior to arriving at the station so that the car is properly configured for fast charging. Simply put, if you do your homework, it's impossible to see yourself in the news.
One good example was offered by a Rivian R1S owner, whose wife took a 255-mile road trip during those dreadful weather conditions that crippled the EVs at the Supercharger station in Chicago earlier this week. Not only did she return safely from the trip, but she had no complaints about the car, the charging experience, or the R1S's efficiency in the cold. It was even more impressive, considering that the Rivian SUV doesn't come with a heat pump, which means it consumes more battery to keep the cabin warm.
Since the couple also owned a Tesla Model X 90D (MY2016, also no heat pump), and they regularly drive the same route, they could compare the two EVs. Needless to say, the Rivian R1S came out a winner from this head-to-head comparison, not least because the range estimates were much more accurate. The Rivian started the trip with a projected range of 303 miles at 100% battery and still had 132 miles of range at the destination after 128 miles. This means it had a 26% efficiency loss due to the bad weather, or a range of 224 miles instead of the 303-mile estimated initially.
The Tesla Model X usually did worse on a similar trip in the winter. From the 245-mile estimated range, it would arrive at the destination with 30 remaining miles. However, the owner doesn't remember doing it in "single-digit weather" like the Rivian. Modern EVs fitted with heat pumps should have no problem dealing with extremely low temperatures without losing much range to heat the cabin. Even without it, the Rivian R1S managed the trip while consuming 155 kWh. The trip's total cost was $49 after charging 60.5 kWh at a DC fast charging station with high prices ($0.59 per kWh during off-peak hours).
**Rivian R1S Extremely Cold Weather 255 Mile Run Results**
— Chris Hilbert (@Hilbe) January 16, 2024
My wife made it safely to/from Cincinnati in the @Rivian R1S with 3 of our kids in 5 degree extremely cold weather. Her biggest complaint about the trip was she brushed up against the car when plugging in the charging… pic.twitter.com/7mu2UOE8BI
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