Several Tesla vehicles were unable to charge at Supercharger locations across Chicago due to an unusual cold wave, a new report claimed.
Dead Tesla Cars Pile Up At Chicago Superchargers Amid Freezing Weather
Extreme cold can cause problems for cars. That is true whether the vehicle is powered by an internal combustion engine or an electric motor, as per The Verge.
Gas-powered vehicles frequently fail to start in cold weather. This has a negative impact on the charging speed and range of electric vehicles. However, we've rarely heard of them not charging at all in the cold.
Chicago is currently experiencing a severe cold wave. Yesterday, the windy city had a temperature of 2F (-19C), which felt like 20F (-29C) due to the wind factor. These severe temperatures have been blamed for problems at many Tesla Supercharger sites throughout the city.
Fox News reported on a number of Tesla automobiles trapped without power and unable to charge at a Supercharger in Chicago. Tesla owners report being unable to start charging their vehicles after plugging them in. Several of them had to have their vehicles towed to the nearest Tesla service center.
Tesla Supercharger Issues in Cold Weather Raise Concerns, Highlight Need for Preparedness
Some argue that the problem is that Tesla customers are not pre-conditioning their battery packs before charging, as Tesla suggests, especially in cold circumstances. However, when you enter a Supercharger station into the car's navigation system, the battery pack is automatically preconditioned.
As a result, it would be remarkable if the majority of them were experiencing this issue. It's probable that the Superchargers are failing owing to the very cold weather in the area. Unfortunately, Tesla does not have a public relations department to contact and request any information regarding the problem.
Be safe out there. The cold is nothing to take lightly. If you live in a chilly climate, you should keep a cold kit with candles and blankets in your car, whether electric or not.
Photo: Austin Ramsey/Unsplash