A winter storm in Virginia in January 2022 resulted in more than 24 hours of snarled traffic. That was after an 18-wheeler jackknifed on one of the area’s busiest highways, effectively shutting down Interstate 95.
Would EVs face major problems in a winter storm?
And why wouldn’t this be true? Wouldn’t the batteries drain quickly, just like gas reserves in other cars? Actually, the answer is no.
Dan explained, “As other drivers then fretted about their dwindling gas reserves, my EV intuitively monitored my power supply, giving me the peace of mind that other drivers did not have.” Plus, since EV drivers tend to charge their batteries at home, they are more likely to have a full charge every day when starting out.
EV idling experiments yield great results
EVs, unlike gas engines, are able to efficiently direct the battery power towards heating the car. Norwegian YouTuber Bjørn Nyland performed a famous test on his Tesla Model 3, keeping it running for an impressive 72 hours before the battery finally required a charge!
After 12 hours of idling in freezing temperatures with the heater running, the Ford lost only 25% of its battery power.
EV batteries appear to hold their charge for long periods of time when idling. I don’t know about you, but if I’m ever trapped in a winter storm traffic jam, I might want to be in an EV!
