• LilB0kChoy@midwest.social
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    10 months ago

    I’ve lived in Minnesota for decades and I’ve never had an ICE not start in the winter.

    That said, the cold weather performance isn’t enough to stop me from getting an EV. The same general rules apply for all vehicles in cold weather climates, which is to always have an emergency kit just in case.

    There was a time though when I commuted 35 miles one way to work and the charging parking spots were always full when I got there. Range loss would worry me a bit there but in that case I’d buy a hybrid and plan for full EV on the next go round.

    • legion02@lemmy.world
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      10 months ago

      I live in Chicago and both my relatively new cars wouldn’t start without a jump last week…

      • LilB0kChoy@midwest.social
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        10 months ago

        Sorry to hear that! You might benefit from a battery tender or one of those jump starter devices like the Halo.

        I had to jump my mother in law last week and we might get her one as a birthday present. Her situation wasn’t directly cold related though, her negative terminal was super corroded. Ended up needing a battery and the terminal cable replaced.

        • legion02@lemmy.world
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          10 months ago

          Got a pair of devices a bit like the halo to keep in the cars going forward. Car went in the shop a few days later for something unrelated but they tested the battery and there was nothing wrong with it, the engine was just too cold.

          • LilB0kChoy@midwest.social
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            10 months ago

            I can only imagine. You guys get that lake effect cold and wind. I’ve seen it a little in Duluth, I can only imagine what it’s like in a city nicknamed the “Windy City”.

    • Bronzie@sh.itjust.works
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      10 months ago

      Really, never?
      AFAIK Minnesota does get proper winter cold, so it’s just a bit surprising.

      I’ve had both petrol and diesel cars not start on me when it’s cold enough.
      Diesel probably didn’t want to go because of old glow plugs and on the petrol I had somehow managed to get a bit of water in the tank that froze in the line.

      • LilB0kChoy@midwest.social
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        10 months ago

        Never. I have had some hard starts when I’ve owned older cars but I’ve never had it not start.

        My biggest issue was actually my first car with the headlights. It didn’t chime to remind you they were on and those didn’t turn off automatically. I had to tape a reminder to turn them off on the steering wheel because I killed the battery a couple times.

        Still, winter performance wouldn’t stop me from getting an EV. It’s probably be a bonus because when it’s super cold out who wants to go anywhere? Good excuse to stay home.