Cold-weather charging
A cold, hard fact: charging efficiency drops as temperatures fall. Read on to learn why this happens and how to make it more efficient with your Polestar.
A cold, hard fact: charging efficiency drops as temperatures fall. Read on to learn why this happens and how to make it more efficient with your Polestar.
Lithium ions, electrodes, and electrons, oh my. EV batteries are complex, as are the electrochemical reactions that take place inside them. What’s important to know is that a cold battery reacts more slowly, resulting in greater internal resistance and longer DC charging times.
The battery temperature will rise while the vehicle is plugged in to a charger. At the same time, the Car’s battery management system automatically adjusts the charger output to balance maximum charging speed with battery longevity. A battery that warms up too quickly risks cell deterioration and lithium plating, which can reduce its maximum charge Capacity over time.
Lithium ions, electrodes, and electrons, oh my. EV batteries are complex, as are the electrochemical reactions that take place inside them. What’s important to know is that a cold battery reacts more slowly, resulting in greater internal resistance and longer DC charging times.
The battery temperature will rise while the vehicle is plugged in to a charger. At the same time, the Car’s battery management system automatically adjusts the charger output to balance maximum charging speed with battery longevity. A battery that warms up too quickly risks cell deterioration and lithium plating, which can reduce its maximum charge Capacity over time.
So, the name of the game when charging in winter is to keep the battery warm. This will also improve driving performance and range. Preconditioning your Polestar gets the job done perfectly, with very little effort.
So, the name of the game when charging in winter is to keep the battery warm. This will also improve driving performance and range. Preconditioning your Polestar gets the job done perfectly, with very little effort.
Put simply, preconditioning the battery brings it to the ideal temperature for optimal performance. A warm battery accepts a charge much better than a cold one, so preconditioning it before DC charging can significantly reduce your time plugged in. The longer the battery has to preheat, the better it charges.
Put simply, preconditioning the battery brings it to the ideal temperature for optimal performance. A warm battery accepts a charge much better than a cold one, so preconditioning it before DC charging can significantly reduce your time plugged in. The longer the battery has to preheat, the better it charges.
- 01.Open the built-in Google Maps app.
- 02.Select a DC fast-charging station as your destination.
Be sure to set the DC charging station itself (70 kW or higher) as your waypoint, rather than a nearby location. Otherwise, preconditioning won’t start.
- 03.Drive efficiently.
Route-based preconditioning starts once your journey is underway. In snow and ice, safe driving should always be prioritized. The good news is that safe driving is efficient driving. Accelerating quickly and braking often will drain the battery faster.
- 04.Allow enough driving time.
In very cold conditions, the battery may need at least 40 minutes of preconditioning to reach its ideal charging temperature.
- 05.Arrive with a sufficient state of charge.
DC fast charging is usually fastest when the battery is at a lower battery level. Battery preconditioning will stop if the battery level drops below 7%.
Use climate timers to preheat for better efficiency.
Before your trip, set the Car’s climate timer to preheat the cabin while it’s charging. This keeps you and your battery warm without affecting your range. A Polestar equipped with a heat pump will do this even more efficiently.
Enable preconditioning with Google Maps routing.
Selecting a DC fast-charging station (over 70 kW) as a destination in the built-in Google Maps app enables automatic battery preconditioning. Note that you must set the charger itself as the waypoint, or preconditioning won’t begin.
Make sure your estimated state of charge (SOC) on arrival stays above 7%, as the system stops preconditioning if it drops below that level. If needed, choose an earlier charging stop to keep this feature active and charge as efficiently as possible.Plan ahead and give the battery time to warm up.
In very cold conditions, it may take more than 40 minutes of preconditioning for the battery to reach its ideal temperature. Selecting a DC charger as your first stop in Google Maps lets the car precondition in time. Use the send-to-car feature to transfer a route from your phone to the car without ever stepping inside.
On long journeys with several charging stops, prioritizing them can help maintain peak charging performance.Charge from 10% to 80% to save time.
DC fast-charging performance depends on the battery’s state of charge (SOC). Charging is generally fastest when the battery is between 10% and 80%. Charging is typically faster when the state of charge (SOC) is lower.
Choose “warm” chargers and quiet locations to avoid delays.
A cold charging unit may be less efficient, so using one that’s been used recently may improve results.
On the other hand, having multiple vehicles charging at the same time can affect power availability. Some charging stations may limit power output when demand is too high, so charging somewhere else may be more efficient.