Charging in cold weather
A cold, hard fact: charging efficiency drops as temperatures fall. Read on to find out 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 find out 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 so 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.
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, balancing the maximum charging rate with battery longevity. A battery that heats 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, and so 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.
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, balancing the maximum charging rate with battery longevity. A battery that heats up too quickly risks cell deterioration and lithium plating, which can reduce its maximum charge capacity over time.
So, when charging during the winter months, the key 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, when charging during the winter months, the key 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, battery preconditioning brings it to the ideal temperature for optimum performance. A warm battery accepts charge much better than a cold one, so 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.
Put simply, battery preconditioning brings it to the ideal temperature for optimum performance. A warm battery accepts charge much better than a cold one, so 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.Select a DC fast charger as your destination.
Make sure you set the DC charging station itself (70 kW or more) as the waypoint, not a nearby location. Preconditioning won’t start otherwise.
- 03.Drive efficiently.
Route-based preconditioning starts once you’re on your way. In snow and ice, safe driving should always come first. The good news is that driving safely 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 enough charge.
DC fast charging is typically quickest when the battery level is low. Battery preconditioning will stop if the battery level drops below 7%.
Preheat using climate timers for better efficiency.
Before you set off, 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 using Google Maps routing.
Selecting a DC fast-charging station (over 70 kW) as your destination in the built-in Google Maps app enables automatic battery preconditioning. Make sure you set the charger itself as the waypoint, otherwise preconditioning won’t start.
Make sure your estimated state of charge (SOC) on arrival stays above 7%, as the system stops preconditioning if it drops below this level. If needed, choose an earlier charging stop to keep this feature active and make charging as efficient 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. Choosing 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 stepping inside.
On long journeys with several charging stops ahead, prioritising them can help maintain peak charging performance.Charge from 10% to 80% to save time.
DC fast-charging performance is linked to 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 quieter 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 several vehicles charge at once can affect power availability. Some charging stations may limit their output when demand is too high, so charging somewhere else can make the experience more efficient.
