Tesla owners in the Chicago region are finding it difficult to charge their electric vehicles, which in some cases is leaving them stuck, as freezing temperatures and brutal weather hit millions of Americans this week.
Due to low battery life and a shortage of functional charging stations, a few Tesla owners were left stranded in the Chicago suburb of Evergreen Park, Illinois on Monday. A Tesla owner reported to Chicago’s WLS local station that he witnessed a minimum of ten cars being towed when their batteries died.
The National Weather Service reports that during the past week, temperatures in the Chicago area have drastically dropped, with wind chills of between -20 and -30 degrees.
A driver in Oak Brook, a different Chicago neighborhood, informed Fox32 that after two days and six hours at a charging station, his Tesla was still dead.
Drivers in Oak Brook reportedly had to wait hours to get their electric cars charged, according to WLS. Drivers were forced to abandon their cars at the charging stations since some of them died while they were waiting.
What is Tesla’s position on driving in the wintertime?
According to Tesla’s website, it’s “normal to see energy consumption increase” and that heating the battery and cabin in cold weather requires more energy in their cars.
Elon Musk’s electric vehicle firm stated that if the battery is too cold for maximum power and optimal range, a blue snowflake indicator may show up on the touchscreen and in the app, and drivers may experience “reduced regenerative braking and acceleration.” Upon the battery reaching room temperature, the snowflake will vanish.
It is advised by Tesla to keep cars plugged in whenever feasible. When not plugged in, keep the charge level over 20% to lessen the effect of cold conditions.
The vehicle’s battery can be warmed via preconditioning, driving, and charging, according to Tesla.