Lightning winter preparations

[metroshot]

Wow, glad I never have to deal with cold, snow, ice, salt, pre-conditioning.

Living in the hot desert southwest USA - we never see winter at all...

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[Crilly]

I well set the garage thermostat at 55 degrees and leave it on when not in the garage and plugged in.

 

[WWJPD]

As for salt, just get it washed(with underside wash) like you normally would. I’m in CT and went to Rochester a number of times. Going west in 18deg with those headwinds and freezing rain kills your range. My Mach-E was getting like less than 1.8mi/kWh, so I imagine the Lightning will similarly lose 30% of normal warmer weather range. But, it’s still cheaper than gas. As others noted, try to precondition by setting departure times and remote start when possible. I knew about the range hit for EVs in cold weather, but it didn’t hit until I saw it for real.

 

[Halbach]

Wow, glad I never have to deal with cold, snow, ice, salt, pre-conditioning.

Living in the hot desert southwest USA - we never see winter at all...

I love the snow, I look forward to it gladly each year... but to each his own!

 

[Halbach]

Going west in 18deg with those headwinds and freezing rain kills your range. My Mach-E was getting like less than 1.8mi/kWh, so I imagine the Lightning will similarly lose 30% of normal warmer weather range. But, it’s still cheaper than gas. As others noted, try to precondition by setting departure times and remote start when possible. I knew about the range hit for EVs in cold weather, but it didn’t hit until I saw it for real.

How was driving on the 90? Were the fast chargers set up on that side of the state yet? As for the range loss, I was messing around on my computer to do some rough calculations regarding it to prepare myself. The 30% number seems to be backed up by math as well as most people's experience. I think I mentioned somewhere that there is a notable density difference in air at 77 vs 0 alone, that's straight range loss. My little simulation degenerated quickly into playtime when I started calculating things with the truck moving closer to airplane speeds than highway speeds lol.

 

[RickKeen]

How many watts are lost to the cabin heater?

 

[sotek2345]

How was driving on the 90? Were the fast chargers set up on that side of the state yet? As for the range loss, I was messing around on my computer to do some rough calculations regarding it to prepare myself. The 30% number seems to be backed up by math as well as most people's experience. I think I mentioned somewhere that there is a notable density difference in air at 77 vs 0 alone, that's straight range loss. My little simulation degenerated quickly into playtime when I started calculating things with the truck moving closer to airplane speeds than highway speeds lol.

We have had no issues finding charging stations along I-90 anywhere from Buffalo to Boston. It is getting better too as NY refurbishes their rest areas. All of them will have 150kW+ DC fast chargers.

 

[Halbach]

How many watts are lost to the cabin heater?

I didn't bother with it but you can subtract range pretty quickly if you knew its draw. My current truck is cold when I get to work so I've gotten used to never turning on the heat (much to my wife's dismay!)

 

[WWJPD]

How was driving on the 90? Were the fast chargers set up on that side of the state yet? As for the range loss, I was messing around on my computer to do some rough calculations regarding it to prepare myself. The 30% number seems to be backed up by math as well as most people's experience. I think I mentioned somewhere that there is a notable density difference in air at 77 vs 0 alone, that's straight range loss. My little simulation degenerated quickly into playtime when I started calculating things with the truck moving closer to airplane speeds than highway speeds lol.

No real problems finding fast chargers. I've even gotten confident enough in it in the warmer months to let it go to under 10% to get to a charger sometimes. Albany, Syracuse, Herkimer, & Waterloo all have good EA chargers and there are some EVGo in there too. There are even a few free 50kW ones like the Warner travel plaza westbound. However, if you are going east of Albany into Mass, don't depend on the Lee travel plaza ones as even if they do work(unlikely), they will most likely be ICE'd.
I knew about cold weather range loss and before the winter I was like, "whatever!", but that range loss, especially traveling 70mph on 90W with snow/rain and the wind resulted in an extra charging stop and really made it real.

 

[VTbuckeye]

I didn't bother with it but you can subtract range pretty quickly if you knew its draw. My current truck is cold when I get to work so I've gotten used to never turning on the heat (much to my wife's dismay!)

My wife says that I am being a martyr by keeping the heat off. She also gets grumpy about lights being left on in the house. I don't point out the inconsistent nature of this (3 or 4 led lights being left on for 15 minutes ....call it 25 watts. Running the car heat for 10 minutes when not absolutely needed ....500+watts).

 

[oldgoalie33]

I‘m in Northern Michigan near Lake Michigan so am used to lake effect snow and have owned a number of F150’s (ICE). There’s lots of salt used here in the winter, and I never noticed any corrosion issues. I had a Mach E (standard range) and the most winter range we got charging overnight in the garage (to 90%) was about 117 miles. My wife drove it to work every day with no issues. Parked outside. Just got in it and drove home. We sold the Mach E in August and are buying the dealer’s ‘mannequin’ Lightning Lariat ER in December. I know what to expect regarding range during winter and am not worried about undercoating it.

 

[sotek2345]

No real problems finding fast chargers. I've even gotten confident enough in it in the warmer months to let it go to under 10% to get to a charger sometimes. Albany, Syracuse, Herkimer, & Waterloo all have good EA chargers and there are some EVGo in there too. There are even a few free 50kW ones like the Warner travel plaza westbound. However, if you are going east of Albany into Mass, don't depend on the Lee travel plaza ones as even if they do work(unlikely), they will most likely be ICE'd.
I knew about cold weather range loss and before the winter I was like, "whatever!", but that range loss, especially traveling 70mph on 90W with snow/rain and the wind resulted in an extra charging stop and really made it real.

Most I have pushed it is down to 2 miles remaining (1% battery) on our Mach-e pulling into Waterloo!

 

[Halbach]

I had a Mach E (standard range) and the most winter range we got charging overnight in the garage (to 90%) was about 117 miles.

The SR Mach-E is around 220 miles normally? That's quite a range hit compared to what I was expecting.

 

[FordLightningMan]

I'd expect freezing temperatures and highway speeds in a Pro or XLT without heated seats to have about 60% range. If charging to 80%, that's around 110 winter miles. I always keep my Tesla at 80%, but may consider bringing the Lightning up to 90% in the winter to get ~120 miles. That's would cover a local day of heavy driving for me. I'm also in WNY.

Is anyone changing out the stock AT tires for winter? It seems like they are rated well for the snow?

 

[Blaster]

I'd expect freezing temperatures and highway speeds in a Pro or XLT without heated seats to have about 60% range. If charging to 80%, that's around 110 winter miles. I always keep my Tesla at 80%, but may consider bringing the Lightning up to 90% in the winter to get ~120 miles. That's would cover a local day of heavy driving for me. I'm also in WNY.

Is anyone changing out the stock AT tires for winter? It seems like they are rated well for the snow?

I went with snow tires, X-Ice. This is the heaviest vehicle I've owned and want the stopping power.

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