Re:The Near Future of Electric Cars: Many Models, Few Buyers
by bkjelden on Friday December 29, 2017 @10:34PM
(#16033705)
If your car is plugged in it can use wall power to pre-heat before your commute, similar to remote start.
Re:The Near Future of Electric Cars: Many Models, Few Buyers
by gnu8 on Saturday December 30, 2017 @12:20AM
(#16033960)
Pre-heating is great, but if your commute is very long it can't make much difference. Traditionally, vehicles are very poorly insulated and it isn't a big problem because their heat is a free waste product. Electric vehicles really need a level of insulation they haven't even considered yet.
The way we northerners deal with that is to have a remote starter installed in our car. By the time we're done putting on our coats and shoes, kissing our wives, and brushing the accumulated snow off the car, the heater is blowing hot and it is fairly comfortable inside. I will grant that this does burn some gas, but how much range in comparison does an electric car sacrifice by heating the cabin off battery power over your entire commute?