How cold has your truck been?

[richl025]

A few years ago we went skiing in Big Sky, MT, and the outside temps got to the negative 20s at night. Our ICE rental car just died. Even when it 'warmed' up to above zero, it would not work the rental car company had to tow it away and give us a new one.

I know all about efficiency losses due to low outside temps, driving, conditioning, etc... but please someone tell me that your Lightning at least _starts_ when it's in the negative twenties!

Any input from our Canadian members?

Thanks!

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[mr.Magoo]

Maybe check out this thread:
https://www.f150lightningforum.com/forum/threads/intentional-cold-soak-15.23238/post-480180

 

[saturnschildren]

Mine lives outside and isn't plugged in at home in the dead of winter. It's sat below -20C for days at a time sometimes at a low SOC. This was a very consistently cold winter and we were -15C or lower just about every night from late December to late February. Never had any problems, I just live with the reduced range. Now that the weather is warming up and the days are longer I can leave it plugged in. I live off the grid so I can only charge the truck when my house batteries are full and I have a surplus. That rarely happens Oct to Feb.

 

[VinnieD365]

Definitely started and used at -30 C and no issue other than the reduced distance. More than 50% reduction for me on the dashboard at that temperature. More than enough to get to and from work. Of course when plugged in when parked having the preconditioning negated the impact…. At least until the battery got colder while driving.

 

[topofsuperior]

This is my first winter and most of my worries are gone. Yes there is reduced range but it is not allergic to cold. We had -33C a few times. I had it plugged in an home but couldn’t plug in at work and no problem even when temps stayed below -20C all day.
In fact I like driving the EV than ICE in winter. Quicker warming up including clearing windshield.

 

[richl025]

Maybe check out this thread:
https://www.f150lightningforum.com/forum/threads/intentional-cold-soak-15.23238/post-480180

Thanks, I did not see that thread previously!

I am now less worried. I may be moving to a place with routinely low temps every winter....

 

[Joe.....Montana]

Truck charges indoors but sits outside during work hours off plug. A couple days the high was -20F (air temperature). Range takes an absolute hit (heat doesn't help) but truck turned on every time. For comparison, range in the -20F temp was 107 miles (GOM) at 60% charge. Today it was 55F and at 60% the range was 170 miles on startup.

 

[Rtashiro]

Truck sits outside for 14 hour shifts in Winnipeg Canada. We often get -30 c or colder. Truck starts every time. One time it would not command start due to low voltage on the 12 volt but still started when I got to the truck. Problem went away after I drove it.

 

[Sobmartin]

A few years ago we went skiing in Big Sky, MT, and the outside temps got to the negative 20s at night. Our ICE rental car just died. Even when it 'warmed' up to above zero, it would not work the rental car company had to tow it away and give us a new one.

I know all about efficiency losses due to low outside temps, driving, conditioning, etc... but please someone tell me that your Lightning at least _starts_ when it's in the negative twenties!

Any input from our Canadian members?

Thanks!

10°F

 

[Piquette]

It may not be the truck that is a problem at low temperatures, but fast charging is.

I tried to make a 200 mile round trip on a February day when it was -18 F. I preconditioned the truck before departing, and the trip started fine, but it was averaging less than 1.5 mile/kWh. After 30 miles I stopped at my Ford dealer who has installed 6 DC fast chargers, just to bring the battery back up to 85%. The charging cables were so stiff from the cold that I couldn’t get the truck plugged in. At which point I decided I didn’t need to be taking a long trip when it was that cold, and I turned around and went back home.

 

[RickKeen]

My Lightning lives in a heated garage, but certainly gets parked at the office outside all day in below-zero degree temps on occasion. Yes, there is a range degradation, but no other issues. Lowest I have seen on the truck's outside thermometer when driving it has been like -13F.

 

[Ragman]

Starts at -35 unplugged, red battery temp, like any vehicle I don’t recommend doing it regularly - plug in. If you do start with red battery wait 5-10 minutes with truck “on” so all the plastic in battery can warm up before driving and temp is at least yellow.

Note - remote start doesn’t help battery have to turn truck “on”

 

[Ragman]

After 30 miles I stopped at my Ford dealer who has installed 6 DC fast chargers, just to bring the battery back up to 85%. The charging cables were so stiff from the cold that I couldn’t get the truck plugged in.

Our Ford dealer did same installed the 120kw Ford Branded chargers - they work well but the cable is size of my wrist and becomes a bar at -30 it DOES NOT BEND.

Meanwhile at the Tesla ranch at -35 still flexible and charges at 100kws…. Love em or hate em, the Tesla stuff is just designed better.

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