Cold-weather charging
One 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.
One 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. The key thing to know is that a cold battery responds more slowly, increasing internal resistance and extending DC charging times.
Battery temperature will rise while plugged into a charger. At the same time, the car’s battery management system automatically regulates the charger’s output to balance the maximum charging rate with battery longevity. A battery that heats up too quickly risks cell degradation and lithium plating, which can reduce its maximum charging capacity over time.
Lithium ions, electrodes, and electrons, oh my. EV batteries are complex, as are the electrochemical reactions that take place inside them. The key thing to know is that a cold battery responds more slowly, increasing internal resistance and extending DC charging times.
Battery temperature will rise while plugged into a charger. At the same time, the car’s battery management system automatically regulates the charger’s output to balance the maximum charging rate with battery longevity. A battery that heats up too quickly risks cell degradation and lithium plating, which can reduce its maximum charging capacity over time.
In winter, the key to charging is keeping the battery warm. This will also improve driving performance and range. Preconditioning your Polestar gets the job done perfectly, with very little effort.
In winter, the key to charging is keeping the battery warm. This will also improve driving performance and range. Preconditioning your Polestar gets the job done perfectly, with very little effort.
In simple terms, battery preconditioning means bringing it to the ideal temperature for optimal performance. Since a warm battery accepts charge much better than a cold one, preconditioning it before DC charging can significantly reduce the time you spend plugged in. And the longer the battery has to preheat, the better its charging performance.
In simple terms, battery preconditioning means bringing it to the ideal temperature for optimal performance. Since a warm battery accepts charge much better than a cold one, preconditioning it before DC charging can significantly reduce the time you spend plugged in. And the longer the battery has to preheat, the better its charging performance.
- 01.Open the built-in Google Maps app.
- 02.Set a DC fast charging station as your destination.
Make sure to select the DC charging station itself (70 kW or higher) as the waypoint, not a nearby location. Preconditioning won’t start otherwise.
- 03.Drive efficiently.
Route-based preconditioning starts once the journey is underway. In snow and ice, safe driving should always come first. The good news is that safe driving is efficient driving. Accelerating quickly and braking often will drain the battery faster.
- 04.Allow enough time for driving.
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 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 your journey, 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 the charger itself must be set as the waypoint, or preconditioning will not begin.
Keep your estimated state of charge (SOC) on arrival 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 make charging as efficient as possible.Plan ahead and allow the battery time to warm up.
In very cold conditions, the battery may need more than 40 minutes of preconditioning to reach its ideal temperature. Setting a DC charger as your first stop in Google Maps gives the car time to precondition. 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, prioritising 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). Optimal charging speeds are generally achieved when the battery is between 10% and 80%. Charging is typically faster when the 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, charging multiple vehicles at the same time can affect power availability. Some charging stations may reduce their output when demand is too high, so charging elsewhere can make your charging experience more efficient.