Warming up your car before driving in cold weather can damage the engine

Re:Warming up your car before driving in cold weather can da... by ajross on Sunday December 25, 2022 @02:55PM (#34130612)

I don't want to be That Guy[1], but an EV can run the climate control, warm the car and defrost the windows with absolutely no maintenance worries at all. Teslas can do it remotely while you sip your coffee or pack up your ski gear.

[1] I totally want to be That Guy

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Re:Warming up your car before driving in cold weather can da... by cactusplant7374 on Sunday December 25, 2022 @03:30PM (#34130937)

I am the guy that preheats his Honda to perfection. I will fly like a bat out of hell out of my front door in my boxers to start the car and run back inside to get ready for another 30 minutes. Yes, I am a total badass.

I’m not worried about maintenance because that is a fact of life. For Tesla’s too (mostly defects).

If your car breaks down shortly after you start driving it and the cabin is ice cold you’re in trouble. At least in a rural area.

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Re:Warming up your car before driving in cold weather can da... by bombcar on Sunday December 25, 2022 @04:02PM (#34131203)

This is a real important point - many drivers in the cold aren’t dressed for it at all and though even many rural roads will have someone pass by relatively soon a warm car is going to be nicer.

Of course anyone driving in freezing areas should have winter survival gear but who actually does?

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Re:Warming up your car before driving in cold weather can da... by cactusplant7374 on Sunday December 25, 2022 @04:11PM (#34131313)

Also, wearing heavy jackets in a car is just damn uncomfortable.

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Re:Warming up your car before driving in cold weather can da... by bombcar on Sunday December 25, 2022 @05:22PM (#34132096)

Especially since about ten minutes in you’ll be boiling and opening the window.

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Re:Warming up your car before driving in cold weather can da... by stephencanon on Sunday December 25, 2022 @06:16PM (#34132554)

Since having kids, always. I’m not particularly fussed about my comfort, but I really don’t want to have to walk a couple miles carrying an underdressed two-year-old (or leave them in the car).

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Re:Warming up your car before driving in cold weather can da... by sammalloy on Sunday December 25, 2022 @04:12PM (#34131326)

> I will fly like a bat out of hell out of my front door in my boxers to start the car and run back inside to get ready for another 30 minutes.

You might want to look into a remote starter accessory. I had it in my last vehicle to start the AC (I live in a warm climate).

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Re:Warming up your car before driving in cold weather can da... by mise_en_place on Sunday December 25, 2022 @03:09PM (#34130739)

The cold still damages your EV’s battery. It is still, after all, a lithium ion battery.

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Re:Warming up your car before driving in cold weather can da... by voisin on Sunday December 25, 2022 @03:15PM (#34130788)

The battery is heated to avoid that damage though. Nothing does this in an ICE car.

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Re:Warming up your car before driving in cold weather can da... by foepys on Sunday December 25, 2022 @03:25PM (#34130903)

While true, how long can the car heat the batteries before it's practically unusable because the battery has depleted so much you need to charge it again before driving to work?

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Re:Warming up your car before driving in cold weather can da... by Gigachad on Sunday December 25, 2022 @03:46PM (#34131061)

Since you likely have it plugged in while it’s at home. Perpetually.

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Re:Warming up your car before driving in cold weather can da... by cuu508 on Sunday December 25, 2022 @04:31PM (#34131549)

What is the approx. power draw when the car is plugged in, fully charged, and the ambient temperature is around freezing?

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Re:Warming up your car before driving in cold weather can da... by lazide on Sunday December 25, 2022 @04:14PM (#34131344)

Heating a 75kw battery up from -17F to 77F uses about 3kwh. So about 3-4%.

This is not a significant concern, frankly.

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Re:Warming up your car before driving in cold weather can da... by ggreer on Sunday December 25, 2022 @04:14PM (#34131348)

I lost a couple percent per day when leaving my car parked in 10°F weather. It’s about the same as enabling sentry mode.

If the car is plugged in– even to a typical 120V wall plug– it’ll charge and warm the battery even in single digit temps.

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Re:Warming up your car before driving in cold weather can da... by sebastien_b on Sunday December 25, 2022 @03:33PM (#34130944)

Some ICE cars have block heaters for this similar purpose.

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