Any owners of plug-in electric cars (Volt, leaf, model s...) on r/ottawa? How's the performance been in the snow? Is the car still usable, did you get stuck? Curious as how the performance has been in the snow!
Posted Feb 17, 2016, 2:31 PM UTC
I drive a Volt, it is completely fine. I drove all over yesterday and didn't get stuck once compared to other people and my neighbours who got stuck with SUV's, cars, and trucks. The trick is winter tires and knowing how to drive in this stuff. Even though the volt is super low, a good set of winters and constant forward momentum without spinning your tires will get you through just fine... unlike the 5 neighbours on my street trying to burn their way through the snow with spinning tires! I'm confused why people think electric cars would be worse in the winter. The power source is different, but everything is the exact same that touches the road....
I know a lot of batteries don't work in temperatures that low, but I assume you could leave the car plugged in overnight like a regular car, and that it would warm itself up once started?
The batteries work fine in the cold, and hold their charge fine. The volt has a gas engine that kicks on to help heat up faster, or for longer drives. This gas engine still powers the electric motor for the wheels though. If the car is plugged in over night, it warms up really fast in the morning and I drive with electric power. If it isn't and is really cold out, say -15 or lower, the battery won't be warm, so the gas runs until the battery gets warmed up. It is an interesting design, that works well. That being said, the car uses alot more power in the winter for heat, turning winter tires, and more friction on the road, so my range goes down.
That's cool. I know I've had cell phones give out on me in the Ottawa Winter weather before, and I assumed that cars were more thoughtfully designed, but wasn't sure.
(Last time it happened I was late for work, my bus was cancelled, and I had to stop into a McDonalds long enough for it to warm up enough for me to call for a ride)
Thanks for sharing - I didn't know the Volt used the gas engine to warm up the battery. Have you done any math to see what the range was like in winter? Does it drop significantly from the 60km (or 80 if you have the newer one)?
In the summer, I average between 65-75km. I can get higher if I milk it, my record is 87km. In the winter, I average 30km on days like yesterday or when really cold, 35-40km usually in the winter. Other factors are how you drive (I have a heavy foot most of the time) and your climate settings. There are settings to reduce your climate control (ECO mode) which doesn't heat as well, or kick the engine on as much to help you warm up. During a normal winter day of driving, the engine will kick on and off while I still have charge to help keep the car warm, probably more efficient than using the electricity. During that time, it will break my driving down between gas and electric KM. At the end of the day, it tells me total KM, gas KM, electric KM, the electricity and gas used, as well as l/100km. My volt is a 2013 for reference. EDIT - I should add that a total charge on the Volt over night is like $0.80 approximately. So even in the winter, if I only get 30km on a charge, it is still cheaper than gas, since it isn't quite as good as a Prius. It also requires Premium only. Where it really shines is in the summer around town, and the fact that it is much nicer than the Prius. Just my opinion though.
It wasn't that cold out yesterday though. A couple times when I checked it was -8, -5.
No, but it was a couple of days ago, which is why I was curious as to whether or not it came up.
Yesterday wasn't very cold compared to the weekend. And any car with a blockheater should be plugged in when it gets that cold so you can start your vehicle. Even gas powered vehicles use battery power to turn over engines. The super cold weather is probably harder on diesels.
They suck the battery life out of the car REALLY fast if you have any sort of heat on (Nissan Leaf).
I actually wonder how well the fully electric cars hold up to the -40 weather moreso than the snow. Don't batteries not like those temperatures?
Range is reduced for sure. The car actually has to heat the batteries even when the car is sitting in a parking lot in those temps.
I think he was asking about available horsepower, and how easy it is to get it to power through snow.
I don't get this question? It's like any other Honda Civic or Corolla or whatever?
Same, I don't get it either. If anything they just have 100% torque 100% of the time.. Not sure why they would do any better or worse though...
I suppose OP is concerned about any effect on the range of the car due to the weather. I'd hate to find out you've got 80% of your expected range from a charge when you're not home yet.
Based on what I found so far, I'd say 80% on a really cold day is optimistic :)
If you're stuck and spin the tires for 10mins I'm sure it affects range,
Maybe some extra weight helps in the snow though.
Engine type, torque, tire size, car clearance, car weight, 2 vs 4 wheel drive models, range, performance of the car... No, it's not just another honda civic...
I'm just curious to collect a bit of anecdotal evidence to see what people with electric cars are going through in the winter. And if the answer ends up being "same or better as any other car", then fantastic!
I meant that HP and Torque from a electric car/hybrid is the same HP and Torque from another vehicle. I am not talking about other features.
EDIT: I'm not talking about the ammount of same HP/Torque is the same... how it is delivered...
I would expect the only real issue would be if you sit there in traffic for 3 hours because of an accident or if you spin your tires forever and not the actual snowy conditions and their impact on the car more than any other car.
Buddy has a P85 Tesla. Not bad, slightly reduced range, lots of traction due to the weight. Buy winter tires!
I used to be a Vrtucar member and have driven their Nissan Leaf in winter.
It drives like any other car. Traction Control kicks in when you hit a slippery patch, preventing wheel spin.
EDIT - Vrtucar puts winter tires on their fleet. Everyone in this climate should.
Yeah. I'm happy to be in Gatineau where winter tires are a law.
my family was laughing when they put that law in place, we already had winters by choice.
Same here, I simply cannot see how you can drive in snow with no snow tires... it says it in the name.
Even if there isn't a whole lot of snow to tread through, winter tires are still recommended. As the temperature drops, rubber hardens and they lose traction. Winter tires stay softer than all-season tires in the cold.
I think non-winter tires should be called "three season" NOT "all season" tires.
Been driving for 18 years now. Never once had winter tires (Growing up in Prince Edward Island) and since moving to Ottawa. I drive to Tremblant on days like yesterday because well skiing. Maybe I have been lucky and never hit a patch of black Ice, I dont know but Im now 18 years in with no snowtires and I just cant bring myself to justify it now.
Tried them out about 7 years ago when I got married ebcause wife demanded them. I had them off about a week later as they felt off completely (too spongy didnt feel like i had traction on normal pavement)
But this is a personal choice and I drive to that.
The current PM went on record before the law was enacted to say that such a law would be unnecessary because 99 or 98% people reported putting them on.
First year it became a mandate, the garages had trouble coping with the traffic.
I think it was more poor planning on when to install tires than people lying.
If you set a specific date for compliance, the week/days prior will get absolutely swamped.
Protip: just because it's law, doesn't mean people will equip them/have proper Winter tires (wear or quality).
Case in point: driving with a smartphone.
Well I can say with confidence that more than 75% of people driving on the roads in Quebec have winter tires.
Your smartphone example is easier to hide. Winter tires, you know if they have 'em or not really.
I hate to admit this, but I had to do it for a year and didn't get caught. I'd argue it's actually easier to hide not having winter tires unless you get yourself into shit.
I've always had winter rubber otherwise. I was just extremely tight for cash that year.
The problem with requiring winter tires is southern ontario where it sadly doesn't make alot of sense.
No, the problem is southern drivers think that winter tires mean snow tires. The cold changes how the tires grip the road, it gets cold in southern Ontario too. Welcome to Canada.
Downvote away but a good set of all-seasons like my Michelin Defenders were just as good yesterday as a set of winter tires. The only advantage a winter tire has is when the temps drop below -7C and even then like anyone else when there's ice you have to drive for the conditions. In the snow, what matters is good tread design.
It's actually below +7C where winters have better traction.
You're right. I stand corrected.
If you don't mind me asking, why not just have your summer tires and your own set of winter tires?
I mean all seasons is better than nothing, but why risk it? Why not just have a set of winter tires and not put anyone else at risk. I don't know enough about all seasons to know if they're actually that bad/good/the same, but why run the risk of putting other people at risk?
I'm more concerned about over-confident drivers with winter tires (or any kind of tires) on their cars than good drivers with a decent sent of A/S tires. I don't believe the cost and the hassle (of swapping wheels twice a year) is justified when I live along a major arterial road that is plowed 99% of the time.
I never put other people at risk because I drive for the conditions. I was not the one passing people on the 417 last night. I wasn't the one tailgating people on the 417. Those were the ones you need to be concerned about. I learned to drive in northern Ontario before there was such a thing as winter tires and those lessons have made me a better driver than 95% of the idiots on the road today.
My 30 year accident-free record speaks for itself.
To be fair though, it doesn't take that long to change your own tires. I understand the part about the cost, I guess to me it's just one of those things I don't mind paying for.
Fair enough though, I see where you're coming from. I think it comes off as a little careless when you initially say you're fine with all season. It actually comes across as a little overconfident. But hey, it's hard to tell over written messages and if you drive safe and are mindful, power to you.