rivian test r1t electric truck in the cold

13COBRA

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I had no idea it was that drastic.

We have had two Mach Es in, both with the extended batteries. After doing a rest (kinda like resetting your fuel mileage), the highest we could get them to read in the cold (<20 degrees Fahrenheit) was 143 miles. These were both AWD so their advertised range was about 275-280.
 

Junior00

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We have had two Mach Es in, both with the extended batteries. After doing a rest (kinda like resetting your fuel mileage), the highest we could get them to read in the cold (<20 degrees Fahrenheit) was 143 miles. These were both AWD so their advertised range was about 275-280.

I’d like to see what happens when stuck in traffic or a major wreck and you get stranded with one of these things. Once the juice is gone you’d likely freeze to death considering most people are highly unprepared for such a scenario.

I watched people in Atlanta for the snowpocalypse sit in their cars for 18+ hours in some cases, but idling with gas you can go days depending on fill level. These electric heaters are likely to kill the battery in hours, and the cold only speeds it along.
 

Weather Man

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In a cold stranded scenario, the battery protects itself, not you. Ironic.
 

AustinSN

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I’d like to see what happens when stuck in traffic or a major wreck and you get stranded with one of these things. Once the juice is gone you’d likely freeze to death considering most people are highly unprepared for such a scenario.

I watched people in Atlanta for the snowpocalypse sit in their cars for 18+ hours in some cases, but idling with gas you can go days depending on fill level. These electric heaters are likely to kill the battery in hours, and the cold only speeds it along.
I did some digging because this had me curious, it looks like there is some decent life in the batteries when only using accessories.

This was 7 years ago from a post on the Tesla forum, so it may be better now with the larger batteries available.

"I was the last vehicle to avoid a 75 car pileup on the 401 here in Ontario a few weeks ago. Being the first car NOT in the accident, it was a very long logjam, and a very long wait. I was stranded in the car for over 5 hours. Was very cold outside. I had about 65 percent battery.

During that time, with my heat running, I only lost about 70 km of range, and had a lot of juice left to last a lot longer. If I had thought it would have been a very long haul, I would have conserved power, dropped heat, ect. But it wasn't necessary at all."
 

HAMMRHEAD

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We have had two Mach Es in, both with the extended batteries. After doing a rest (kinda like resetting your fuel mileage), the highest we could get them to read in the cold (<20 degrees Fahrenheit) was 143 miles. These were both AWD so their advertised range was about 275-280.
I'm picking up a Tesla Model Y Performance this week for my new daily. Supposed to have 315 mile range. If I can get 200 miles from a charge in the cold temps I'll be fine with that. I pretty much stay local, so it should be interesting how the cold affects it. Though now that it is March, I may have to wait until next winter to really find out.
 

Junior00

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I did some digging because this had me curious, it looks like there is some decent life in the batteries when only using accessories.

This was 7 years ago from a post on the Tesla forum, so it may be better now with the larger batteries available.

"I was the last vehicle to avoid a 75 car pileup on the 401 here in Ontario a few weeks ago. Being the first car NOT in the accident, it was a very long logjam, and a very long wait. I was stranded in the car for over 5 hours. Was very cold outside. I had about 65 percent battery.

During that time, with my heat running, I only lost about 70 km of range, and had a lot of juice left to last a lot longer. If I had thought it would have been a very long haul, I would have conserved power, dropped heat, ect. But it wasn't necessary at all."

Dunno, but if you’re already at the lower end on storage and this happens who knows. Very cold meaning what as well? I saw a discussion by several Canucks who are plow drivers that had rescued folks whose Tesla’s had gone dead when they couldn’t make it any further. Once temps drop below a certain threshold which it can reach up North it seems to kill batteries that much faster. Just my opinion but it’s ludicrous.
 

AustinSN

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Dunno, but if you’re already at the lower end on storage and this happens who knows. Very cold meaning what as well? I saw a discussion by several Canucks who are plow drivers that had rescued folks whose Tesla’s had gone dead when they couldn’t make it any further. Once temps drop below a certain threshold which it can reach up North it seems to kill batteries that much faster. Just my opinion but it’s ludicrous.
I'm not sure what very cold means to someone from Ontario, that was posted in February of 2014, and the post stated a few weeks ago. A quick look at the history of January 2014, looks like the average temp was 17 degrees (F). Lowest, -11, highest 45.

Not defending it, just looking around at anecdotes.

I sure as hell wouldn't be leaving the house if I had an electric car with a battery less than 80%.

I also most likely won't own anything electric for a really long time.
 

CobraBob

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Seems very risky to use an electric vehicle in cold climates knowing its range can be severely lessened. Minimal miles with a charge each night is fine, but if you do have to drive over 200 miles with temps 0-10 degrees seems too risky. At that point a hybrid (gas motor and electric motor) makes more sense IMO. I personally would never own an electric vehicle up here in CT. When we get a cold winter, it is COLD. When I DO have to drive a longer distance in bitter cold weather, I want to know I'll actually make it to my destination.
 

My94GT

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Seems very risky to use an electric vehicle in cold climates knowing its range can be severely lessened. Minimal miles with a charge each night is fine, but if you do have to drive over 200 miles with temps 0-10 degrees seems too risky. At that point a hybrid (gas motor and electric motor) makes more sense IMO. I personally would never own an electric vehicle up here in CT. When we get a cold winter, it is COLD. When I DO have to drive a longer distance in bitter cold weather, I want to know I'll actually make it to my destination.


Why would it be risky? You just have to factor that into the driving you do. You have to figure most people are plugging their cars in at night so it should have a full charge any given day you leave. Factor that against average cold weather driving. Most people know what the weather is like in their given area year round and what to expect commute wise. How many states that normally have cold and snow based environments have traffic jams that last the better part of a day? I can only count on one hand how many times in my almost twenty years of driving with normally a 100 mile commute round trip per day where I’ve sat in a duration of traffic for greater then 3-4 hours.

maybe it’s just me but if I’m buying an EV car which I debate regularly, I’m just using it for local commuting needs not long distances.
 

GTSpartan

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32 miles per day is the national avg commute. For the masses, as long as you are not a complete moron, the chances of running out of "juice" in any given day is quite remote. It's just as easy to run out of gas as it is electrons (not as easy to fill back up though). Just need to adjust our behaviors a bit.

Not blindly defending the electric car, just highlighting that some folks range anxiety is a largely misplaced.
 
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