The severe winter weather that North America has been experiencing this week has exposed the difficulties that Tesla owners and other EV users experience, as well as the vulnerabilities that EV batteries have in extremely cold temperatures. In places like Oak Brook, Illinois, where freezing temperatures are a routine occurrence, public charging stations have been dubbed "car graveyards" as Tesla owners and EV drivers struggled to power their vehicles.

Tesla EV's Reliability Under Question

The harsh truth about EVs, especially Teslas, has become apparent as Americans grapple with this severe cold wave.  The question lingers: Can electric vehicles remain a viable option in cold weather when not all batteries can withstand subzero temperatures?

Consumers and automakers alike might get increasingly concerned about how dependable electric cars will be in harsh winter weather these days. This past days Tesla owners had endured harsh winter in using their EVs. This brings attention to the reliability of EVs in freezing weather like the current one.

A report mentioned one Tesla owner calling out Elon Musk to do something about it, and probably help them out. However, Mark Bilek, a representative of the Chicago Auto Trade Association, emphasized that there is a learning curve for Tesla owners and EV users.

He noted that electric vehicle technology is not as straightforward as plug-and-go. To optimize the performance of EV batteries in harsh winter conditions, a process called preconditioning is necessary. Preconditioning involves raising the battery's temperature to an ideal level for fast charging.

Nevertheless, report questions this suggestion. However, there are certain difficulties with the preconditioning procedure. Moreover, it uses battery power, which makes utilizing electric cars in bitterly cold climates more difficult.

READ MORE: Michigan Faces Subzero Chill, Leading to Vehicle Problems and Crashes

In its "Cold Weather Best Practices" advice, Tesla acknowledges these difficulties and compares the process of getting ready for a winter trip to a challenging jigsaw. Tesla recommends activating climate settings at least 30-45 minutes before departure and monitoring the outside temperature and other factors.

The mobile app provides notifications once the vehicle reaches the desired preconditioning temperature. Additionally, using Tesla's Trip Planner for routing to a charging station at least 30-45 minutes before arrival is advised to ensure optimal battery temperature and charging conditions. For shorter drives, it is also suggested to precondition the battery before departure.

EV Battery Challenges in Extreme Cold Weather

The hard truth about EVs is that they have a major struggle in cold weather because of the way their little lithium-ion batteries behave, according to an article by GoBanking Rates. The electrolyte liquid in these batteries thickens under cold weather, much like cold weather affects oil viscosity. Slower ion mobility between the battery's electrodes results from this change, which raises resistance and reduces the effectiveness of power transmission.

Stated differently, when the temperature lowers, the battery has a harder time producing enough energy to move the car forward. Manufacturers like Tesla advise preconditioning, which is heating the battery to its optimal operating temperature prior to use, as a solution to this problem.

In colder climates, preconditioning can enhance battery performance, although there is a catch, though: the process depletes battery capacity, creating an inconsistency where energy is wasted to enable more effective battery charging.

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