Many Tesla cars are lining up at Supercharger stations as the vehicles struggle to charge and keep a charge during the extreme cold weather in Chicago.
Reports also showed that tow trucks are being used to move the cars.
Tesla Owners Attempt to Charge Their Cars Amid Extreme Weather
According to the drivers, the normal charge would only take about 45 minutes but due to the extreme cold it could take up to two hours. Other drivers also complained that the low temperature is draining the batteries more quickly than it should be.
Earlier this week, the local National Weather Service office logged a rise to 1 degree Fahrenheit at Chicago-O'Hare Airport, citing that the state has been below zero degrees for about 35 to 36 hours already.
However, the situation is not limited to Tesla only as the problem is due to the type of battery that is used in electric vehicles. Lithium-ion batteries are known for being sensitive to cold, especially on below freezing temperatures.
Tesla Advised Drivers to Maintain 20% Battery to Avoid Problems
To provide a short-term solution for Tesla owners, the company advised to keep the vehicle plugged in and maintain at least 20% of the battery charge. It is also advisable to precondition the battery before driving to the charging location.
"Tesla recommends using Trip Planner to navigate to a charging location for at least 30-45 minutes before arrival to ensure optimal Battery temperature and charging conditions," the company instructed in the Model S owner's manual.
In addition, Tesla cars should be connected to an external, low-voltage power supply before opening a frosted door when the vehicle has no power. This will hopefully avoid the chances of breaking a window.
For now, the only thing Tesla owners can do now is to make sure that their car is prepared to charge during extreme cold to avoid any issues.
