Cold weather charging
A cold hard fact: charging efficiency drops along with the temperatures. Read on to learn why this happens, and how to make it more efficient with your Polestar.
A cold hard fact: charging efficiency drops along with the temperatures. 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, and equally so are the electrochemical reactions that take place inside. What’s important to know is that a cold battery results in slower reactions, which leads to greater internal resistance and longer DC charging times.
Battery temperature will rise while plugged into a charger. At the same time, the car battery management system automatically regulates the charger output to balance maximum charging rate with longevity. A battery that warms up too quickly risks cell deterioration and lithium plating, which can lead to reduced maximum charge capacity over time.
Lithium ions, electrodes, and electrons, oh my. EV batteries are complex, and equally so are the electrochemical reactions that take place inside. What’s important to know is that a cold battery results in slower reactions, which leads to greater internal resistance and longer DC charging times.
Battery temperature will rise while plugged into a charger. At the same time, the car battery management system automatically regulates the charger output to balance maximum charging rate with longevity. A battery that warms up too quickly risks cell deterioration and lithium plating, which can lead to reduced maximum charge capacity over time.
So the name of the game for charging in the winter months is to keep the battery warm. Driving performance and range will also benefit from this. Preconditioning your Polestar gets the job perfectly, and with very little effort required.
So the name of the game for charging in the winter months is to keep the battery warm. Driving performance and range will also benefit from this. Preconditioning your Polestar gets the job perfectly, and with very little effort required.
In simple terms, preconditioning the battery is getting it to the ideal temperature for optimised performance. Since a warm battery accepts charge much better than a cold one, preconditioning the battery before DC charging can significantly reduce time spent plugged in. And the more time the battery gets to preheat, the better the charging performance becomes.
In simple terms, preconditioning the battery is getting it to the ideal temperature for optimised performance. Since a warm battery accepts charge much better than a cold one, preconditioning the battery before DC charging can significantly reduce time spent plugged in. And the more time the battery gets to preheat, the better the charging performance becomes.
- 01.Open the built-in Google Maps app.
- 02.Select a DC fast charging station as the destination.
Be sure to select the DC charging station (70 kW or more) itself as the waypoint, not a nearby location. Preconditioning will not initiate otherwise.
- 03.Drive efficiently.
Route-based preconditioning starts when the journey is underway. In snow and ice, safe driving should always be prioritised. The good news is 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 before reaching its ideal charging temperature.
- 05.Arrive with sufficient state of charge.
DC fast charging is typically quickest at lower battery levels. Battery preconditioning will stop if the battery level drops below 7%.
Preheat with climate timers for better efficiency.
Before the journey, set the car’s climate timer to preheat the cabin while it’s charging. This keeps you and your battery warm without affecting the range. A Polestar with a heat pump equipped 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 the charger itself must be set as the waypoint, or else preconditioning will not begin.
Ensure that 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 for the most efficient charging experience.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 the first stop on Google Maps lets the car precondition on 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 ahead, prioritising these stops can help maintain peak charging performance.Charge between 10% and 80% to save time.
DC fast charging performance is tied to the battery’s state of charge (SOC). Optimal charging speeds are generally achieved when the battery is between 10% and 80%. Faster charging typically occurs when the SOC is lower.
Pick “warm” chargers and calm locations to avoid delays.
A cold charging unit may be less efficient, so using a charger that’s been recently used may improve results.
On the other hand, multiple vehicles charging at the same time can affect power availability. Some charging stations may limit output if the power demand is too high, so charging elsewhere can make the experience more efficient.