The use of electric vehicles has also steadily gained popularity due to their sustainability, efficiency, and lower operating costs. However, they face a unique challenge: cold weather. Freezing weather is always a challenge that puts pressure on the battery power and energy management of any EV anywhere in the world, especially in developed countries like Canada.
Recently an experiment of leaving a Tesla Model 3 in the freezing Canadian climate to gauge how much energy the car spends during a night while parked was conducted. The findings may be useful to those interested in Tesla cars and those seeking to understand the overall EV market better.
Tesla Model 3 Loses 37% Battery During 12-Hour Idle in Winter Freeze
This was what Canadian YouTuber FrozenTesla sought to discover using his own 2024 Model 3 Long Range All-Wheel Drive, by leaving it on through the night when the temperature drops to feel as low as -28 C (-18 F) degrees.
The experiment commenced at 9.30 pm with the battery’s state of charge to the car at 66%. The climate system was turned to 20 degrees Celsius, the front heated seats were adjusted to automatic mode and the heated steering wheel was on as well.
After approximately an hour, the SoC reduced by about 4%. One more hour later the level decreased by 3% again. For the next morning, after 12 hours the car’s battery was left “idling” during the night, it had 29% charge left and averaged a loss of 3 percent per hour.
Hence, cumulative energy used during idling for 12 hours was 34.4 kWh, which at $0.176 by using the current electricity price in the United States amounts to $6.05.
In comparison, a four-cylinder 1.5-liter gas engine gulps about 0.16 gallons per hour in idle. Take that and multiply by 12 hours and you end up with 1.92 gallons after 12 hours of stalling. Even at today’s average of about $3 for gas in the United States, it comes to $ 5.76. On the cost front, the efficiency is not there really but then again 1.5-liter engines are not commonly seen in the US market they build bigger and thirstier engines.
Why the Energy Loss Occurs
The primary contributors to the energy loss included:
- Cabin Heating: It is extremely energy-consuming to regulate the interior temperature during the winter period. Tesla’s climate control system applies electric power from the battery in charging the heater.
- Battery Heating: To avoid any harm and better functionality, the BMS of Tesla maintains the battery temperature by incurring energy utilization.
- Standby Energy Use: In case, Tesla cars operate in the parked mode, they require minimal power to run aspects such as safety, communications, and diagnostics.
Conclusion
The results of this test are helpful to Tesla drivers who drive in freezing climates including the Tesla Model 3 owners. Cold temperatures might reduce battery life compared to warm weather, but the energy consumed in heating the car throughout the night is far less than the energy a gasoline car will have to consume. If all the factors are well considered, EVs are very reasonable and dependable in the winter seasons as this observation shows.
Why would you leave the climate on if you’re not in it? If this is supposed to replicate being caught on the road in the storm, then say so.
Nor would an ICE in that circumstance idle for 12 hours straight.