How did electric vehicles handle America's Arctic blast?

wnd.com ^ | 1/2/2023 1146 hrs est | Ross Pomeroy

[rktman]

There are now an estimated 1.7 million electric vehicles (EVs) on U.S. roads, compared to roughly 400,000 in spring 2018. That means that a lot more Americans are experiencing the joys and pitfalls of EV ownership, from silent, swift acceleration and emission-free driving on the positive side to slower fueling times and shorter driving ranges on the negative side.

More Americans are also learning that frigid temperatures affect EVs differently than internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, chiefly by cutting into their driving range to a greater extent. While a typical ICE vehicle might have its range reduced by 15% to 25% in below-freezing temperatures, an EV's range will be slashed 20% to 50% depending upon driving speed, temperature, and interior climate preferences. Combustion reactions occur more inefficiently at colder temperatures, accounting for the range decline in ICE vehicles. But cold slows the physical and chemical reactions in EV batteries to a larger degree, limiting the energy and power the battery can deliver to the motors. Moreover, while ICE vehicles utilize otherwise wasted heat from the engine to warm car interiors in winter, EVs use electric heaters to perform much of the climate control, further draining the already hamstrung battery.

[PIF]

Still waiting on the solar powered air craft carriers of the future.

—
You got the carrier bit wrong - they will not be solar powered, but hydro powered!

[fireman15]

Heat pumps use less electricity to create the same amount of heat than electric resistance heating strips.

Unless it is extremely cold outside... then they basically don't work. This is why heat pumps in places where it gets cold frequently are backed up by conventional heating. It sounds like whoever tutored you on this subject left out a minor detail or two.

[fireman15]

Sounds like you would rather push a Ford than drive a Chevy.

[fireman15]

If only there were a way to generate electric power on-board the vehicle while in operation...

Sounds like you might be in the market for the new Ford G-950 with "Jet Flow Drive". Coming Soon!

[GOPJ]

It’s cool to own an EV IF you own an ICE vehicle too...

It would be nuts to only own an EV.

They won’t pull you through a Hurricane evacuation - they could catch fire if salt water hits the battery, or just stop running in 6 hour evacuations. . In cold weather you might not get home before the battery dies... the Southwest Airline’s version of car ... cancelled.

[rktman]

👍

[Tell It Right]

We don't worry too much about hurricanes or salt water in north central Alabama. It's much like the snow blizzard of 1993 was probably a once in a lifetime event and not worth using that as a basis for the normal driving environment I expect a car to handle.

There aren't many of us solar users and EV owners who are conservative. But of those of us who exist, a large percentage of us do it to diversify our energy dependence and/or to make us less dependent on the Dims' energy policies.

I probably wouldn't own an EV even as a 2nd car if I lived near the hurricanes or regular blizzards. I probably wouldn't own an EV even where I live if it wasn't for the fact that I went solar too and made my house all-electric as a way to try to wean us from being dependent on energy resources that the Dims control through their stupid policies. An EV is an extension of that mostly energy freedom -- allowing us to do all of our local driving practically free just like we power our home practically free (pulling 15% to 20% of our power from the grid).

[rktman]

No wind turbines?

[GOPJ]

An EV is an extension of that mostly energy freedom -- allowing us to do all of our local driving practically free just like we power our home practically free (pulling 15% to 20% of our power from the grid).

I admire your well though out and well implemented solutions. In your spot I would own an EV too. I'm guessing in the future when more of the kinks have been worked out - most of us will follow in your footsteps. For now - living in Florida with a back yard that ends at a salt water stream - not a chance...

[PIF]

No wind turbines?
—
Not on Carriers - but on destroyers and cruisers. Subs use batteries so little change there, except to hook up to a surface ship for a recharge.

[Yo-Yo]

It sounds like whoever tutored you on this subject left out a minor detail or two.

Nice snark.

Read my other posts, and read the links I provided, then get back to me.

I don't know where you live, but in most of the U.S., outside of Frostbite Falls, MN, and Alaska, a functioning heat pump down to 15°F is more than adequate, and below that then yes, supplemental resistance heat is required.

[Tell It Right]

If you decided to do like I did with solar, but not get an EV (for reasons you pointed out), I would still think twice and do a looootttt of homework with solar before you do. Conceptually, in Florida you're probably in a better spot than I am for solar. The thing is there's a line where how much solar and battery storage and inverter capacity you have is as much as you can do without running into the law of diminishing returns. Then there's researching federal and state regulations and the parameters when various regulations take effect (i.e. like if you decide to put power onto the grid to sell power and "make money" you wind up becoming a "power generator" with all the red tape that comes with it, as well as a monthly fee).

But if you pull it off you're in a sweet spot where the Dims' stupid control-freak energy policies don't impact your budget nearly as much.

[Paperpusher]

These, in addition to range, are all problems to be solved - but like most folks, I’m not buying until they are solved.

They already have a solution called hybrids

[GOPJ]

It’s certainly worth considering.

An added value - power after a major hurricane. Thanks Tell it Right - interesting stuff.

[Tell It Right]

"An added value - power after a major hurricane. "

Again, that's only if you don't put power onto the grid. Putting power onto the grid means, among other things, that you have to set your inverter to automatically shut off whenever grid power goes down (to protect the linemen).

I don't put power onto the grid, therefore, if today's storm knocks out my power my lights will be on (because I currently have 58% charge in my batteries, which means over 34kWh of power my inverters will draw from batteries in a grid down mode to not let the charge level get below 20%). And since my two inverters together put out 16kW at a time (when in off-grid mode, but they put out 18kW when the grid power is up), virtually all of my circuits are on the "critical load" panel. Basically, almost my entire house can be powered when the grid is down, including the appliances. Just not all on at the same time (I can't exceed 16kW, so I can't charge my EV at full speed while in the hot tub with the jets on high while the clothes dryer is on high, etc.) Nor can I do it all day and night (eventually I'd run out of the 34kWh in batteries before the sun comes up tomorrow). But in a power grid down situation, it gives me the flexibility to choose which appliances are important at that moment (i.e. right now the temperature is moderate, so I can shut off my variable speed heat pump if I want to, likewise my hybrid water heater can stay in efficiency mode since I don't have company over needing the water tank reheated quickly, etc.). We're in the habit of doing that anyway, because when the grid is up, if we exceed the 18kW that the inverters can provide at any moment, the inverters pull the excess from the grid.

[Wonder Warthog]

"Heat pumps don't work when the ambient temp is below freezing."

Wrong. The limiting factor is when the working fluid will no longer vaporize....which happens well below the freezing point of water (depending on which working fluid the system uses...Freon, ammonia, or propane).

[itsahoot]

Heat pumps don’t work as well in cold conditions.

Below 32 degrees the heat strips come on.

[itsahoot]

Heat pumps don't work when the ambient temp is below freezing.

They still work but auxiliary heat must be applied. Many have used thermal heat storage or if water supply is not an issue they use thermal energy from water. The point is though they require auxiliary heat to work below 32 degrees. My home in Southern Oregon uses heat pumps exclusively, we have few days below 32 but the heat pumps keep up by turning on the heat strips built into the units. No natural gas available here but for the creative types you could provide auxiliary heat with firewood, at least for now.

[minnesota_bound]

FTA: 1.7 million electric vehicles (EVs) on U.S. roads

Compared to over 250 million cars and trucks in the USA.
Looks like gas and diesel won out.

[fireman15]

I don't know where you live, but in most of the U.S., outside of Frostbite Falls, MN, and Alaska, a functioning heat pump down to 15°F is more than adequate,

There are some modern heat pumps which will work down to 15°F albeit inefficiently. The vast majority do not operate efficiently at temperatures under around 40°F. Most residents North of Florida or Arizona still use conventional heat sources to back up heat pumps. This may change in the coming years.

https://www.estesair.com/blog/at-what-temperature-does-a-heat-pump-quit-working-efficiently

I am not sure what your point is supposed to be. I imagine that you are just trying to save face. Manufacturers currently use heat pumps to warm up the cabins of some electric vehicles. That is because they are more efficient in temperatures above around 40°F. However, battery packs in cars like Teslas that have been left outside in subfreezing temperatures are still using resistance heating to get the batteries back to a temperature where they can take a charge.

Read my other posts, and read the links I provided, then get back to me.

Yeah, that is probably not going to happen... why don't you stop being so cryptic and just share whatever relevant information you have to share. Which manufacturers do you believe are currently using heat pumps to thaw out battery packs that have reached sub-freezing temperatures? Enlighten us please.