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 your destination.
Be sure to set the DC charging station itself (70 kW or more) as your 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 safe driving is efficient driving. Accelerating quickly and braking frequently will drain the battery faster.
- 04.Allow enough time to drive.
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 at lower Battery levels. Battery preconditioning will stop if the battery level drops below 7%.
Preheat using climate timers for greater 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, otherwise preconditioning will not 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 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. 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 your car without even 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 depends on the battery’s state of charge (SOC). You generally get the best charging speeds when the battery is between 10% and 80%. Charging is typically faster when the state of charge (SOC) is lower.
Choose chargers marked “warm” 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, charging multiple vehicles at the same time can affect power availability. Some charging stations may limit their output when demand is too high, so charging elsewhere can make the experience more efficient.