Preparing an EV for a winter storm...

[SpaceEVDriver]

We just had the second-hottest year on record in a decade of hottest years on record, a ridiculously low amount of snow (we’re currently two feet below normal for the winter season), and a below-normal total precipitation. Now we’re looking at a potential of up to a foot or more of snow in one storm.
So what are we doing to prepare our EVs for the first big storm of the season?

Charging them up a bit more than we usually do.
I’ll charge the truck to 100% and the Mustang to 90%. I will also spend some time installing my generator port in the garage. I was going to wait for a week or so while I worked on other tasks and chores, but I might as well get this done now.

Well, we already have winter storm emergency clothing and other gear in the truck. The plow is ready to be hooked up. The heat pump is protected from snow so it will continue to work correctly. The hot tub is warmed up and ready to use.

I used to swap to snow tires, but so far our EVs have done great in the snow and ice, so we don’t even own snow tires anymore. Maybe someday I’ll get another set, but we’ll see.

What am I forgetting or not doing that you might think about or worry should be done for a winter storm in your area? Yes, I realize to some people a foot isn’t a lot. The point is less about total amounts and more about preparations for a storm, potential power outage, potential road closures, etc.

 

[J Alynn]

We just had the second-hottest year on record in a decade of hottest years on record, a ridiculously low amount of snow (we’re currently two feet below normal for the winter season), and a below-normal total precipitation. Now we’re looking at a potential of up to a foot or more of snow in one storm.
So what are we doing to prepare our EVs for the first big storm of the season?

Charging them up a bit more than we usually do.
I’ll charge the truck to 100% and the Mustang to 90%. I will also spend some time installing my generator port in the garage. I was going to wait for a week or so while I worked on other tasks and chores, but I might as well get this done now.

Well, we already have winter storm emergency clothing and other gear in the truck. The plow is ready to be hooked up. The heat pump is protected from snow so it will continue to work correctly. The hot tub is warmed up and ready to use.

I used to swap to snow tires, but so far our EVs have done great in the snow and ice, so we don’t even own snow tires anymore. Maybe someday I’ll get another set, but we’ll see.

What am I forgetting or not doing that you might think about or worry should be done for a winter storm in your area? Yes, I realize to some people a foot isn’t a lot. The point is less about total amounts and more about preparations for a storm, potential power outage, potential road closures, etc.

Snacks and several bottles of water in the car just in case you get stuck somewhere for a while

 

[apex96]

I keep a few bags of salt on hand to lay down once snow is cleared off drive and walk ways.

 

[SpaceEVDriver]

I keep a few bags of salt on hand to lay down once snow is cleared off drive and walk ways.

I used to use salt, but it caused so much damage to my (old) concrete walkways that I stopped.
But that does remind me to recharge the snow blower batteries.

 

[BeerParty]

The hot tub is warmed up and ready to use.

Glad to hear that you have your priorities sorted.

 

[BeerParty]

Now we’re looking at a potential of up to a foot or more of snow in one storm.
So what are we doing to prepare our EVs for the first big storm of the season?

<snip>

What am I forgetting or not doing that you might think about or worry should be done for a winter storm in your area? Yes, I realize to some people a foot isn’t a lot. The point is less about total amounts and more about preparations for a storm, potential power outage, potential road closures, etc.

The best advice I have for a situation like this is the same advice the weather forecasters always give - stay home if you can.

I am working from home today even thought I had planned to be in the office. We had freezing rain overnight and snow showers in the morning. While I am confident my car could have managed, I stayed home so I would (1) stay safe and (2) not be in the way of the people clearing the roads.

 

[cyure]

The best advice I have for a situation like this is the same advice the weather forecasters always give - stay home if you can.

I am working from home today even thought I had planned to be in the office. We had freezing rain overnight and snow showers in the morning. While I am confident my car could have managed, I stayed home so I would (1) stay safe and (2) not be in the way of the people clearing the roads.

I agree and I can do that but both my kids are in healthcare and have to go to work. That’s what the Jeep is for and what my Scout will be fire. When the weather is bad Im the taxi.

 

[SpaceEVDriver]

The best advice I have for a situation like this is the same advice the weather forecasters always give - stay home if you can.

I am working from home today even thought I had planned to be in the office. We had freezing rain overnight and snow showers in the morning. While I am confident my car could have managed, I stayed home so I would (1) stay safe and (2) not be in the way of the people clearing the roads.

100% Agreed.

In our big storms, we only go out if we absolutely need to, and I can’t remember the last time either of us was out during the storm. I don’t think this will be a big storm, but we’ll stay home anyway.

 

[BeerParty]

I agree and I can do that but both my kids are in healthcare and have to go to work. That’s what the Jeep is for and what my Scout will be fire. When the weather is bad Im the taxi.

Keep them (and yourself) safe, @cyure .

As the son of an emergency room nurse and the father of a child that works in healthcare, I know the struggle with poor road conditions. It is one of the reasons I always by AWD or 4WD vehicles.

 

[cyure]

Keep them (and yourself) safe, @cyure .

As the son of an emergency room nurse, and the father of a child that works in healthcare, I know the struggle with poor road conditions. It is one of the reasons I always by AWD or 4WD vehicles.

You as well. One son is an ICU nurse and the other works at a nursing home. That’s why I have to have a vehicle that can get us there and back as safely as possible.

 

[speedrye]

Man, being in the south, I love going to work on the rare snow days. Nobody on the roads and nobody bothering me at work. Peaceful solitude!

 

[chucchinchilla]

I bought one of these a couple weeks ago after a power outage...

I have a bunch of Ryobi tools and thus a bunch of those battery packs that, until now, were useless for anything other than the tools themselves. Nice to have an additional energy source I can tap into when the power goes out next time.

Edit: I should add my main source of power for outages (until I get an EV that can do V2H) is this 2kWh battery power station from Anker. Also came with 400W solar panels. Enough juice to run our fridge/wifi for about a day and a half before having to having to charge it. Again, that's at 2kWh, imagine being able to tap into 80kWh+ on an EV. Weeks of power.

 

[nolen]

Man, being in the south, I love going to work on the rare snow days. Nobody on the roads and nobody bothering me at work. Peaceful solitude!

Not in our part of the south:

 

[nolen]

Not in our part of the south:View attachment 12617

But that led to great memes

 

[J Alynn]

I used to use salt, but it caused so much damage to my (old) concrete walkways that I stopped.
But that does remind me to recharge the snow blower batteries.

From builder standpoint salt is TERRIBLE-never use it on concrete. Bag of sand and cinder stone is ideal but can freeze if it gets moist if in a pick up bed which sucks.

 

[J Alynn]

The best advice I have for a situation like this is the same advice the weather forecasters always give - stay home if you can.

I am working from home today even thought I had planned to be in the office. We had freezing rain overnight and snow showers in the morning. While I am confident my car could have managed, I stayed home so I would (1) stay safe and (2) not be in the way of the people clearing the roads.

Thank you for taking that approach. I do the same. No job is worth risking your life for-unless maybe ER doctor who is there to save others lives.

 

[J Alynn]

Man, being in the south, I love going to work on the rare snow days. Nobody on the roads and nobody bothering me at work. Peaceful solitude!

Always funny. 20 years ago my wife went to Atlanta for 3 days to audit a plant. Day 2 they got 1/2” of snow and the “world” shut down. They told her to stay at hotel and she said have the doors open at 8am-it’s 1/2”-im not wasting a day over this. But people who don’t know snow-dont know snow no matter what depth and that can make people very dangerous on the roads

 

[SpaceEVDriver]

Always funny. 20 years ago my wife went to Atlanta for 3 days to audit a plant. Day 2 they got 1/2” of snow and the “world” shut down. They told her to stay at hotel and she said have the doors open at 8am-it’s 1/2”-im not wasting a day over this. But people who don’t know snow-dont know snow no matter what depth and that can make people very dangerous on the roads

This is my experience too.
I see three kinds of people driving in snow in AZ:

1. People from the warmer desert areas or from out-of-state. They often don’t know how to drive in any depth of snow.
2. People with 4x4s but without the sense of a field mouse. They think their 4x4 will stop sooner because it’s a 4x4 and refuse to slow down. They’re ALWAYS the ones I end up pulling out of a ditch. At least the people in #1 above slow down and are cautious and fearful of the snow.
3. There’s no number three because the rest stay home and safe.

 

[J Alynn]

This is my experience too.
I see three kinds of people driving in snow in AZ:

1. People from the warmer desert areas or from out-of-state. They often don’t know how to drive in any depth of snow.
2. People with 4x4s but without the sense of a field mouse. They think their 4x4 will stop sooner because it’s a 4x4 and refuse to slow down. They’re ALWAYS the ones I end up pulling out of a ditch. At least the people in #1 above slow down and are cautious and fearful of the snow.
3. There’s no number three because the rest stay home and safe.

Yeah. Same with 4x4 owners who believe that can drive on ice. Ice is ice and 4x4 is not the key factor in doing it successfully. Slow, constant movement and way more patience than I have. Per you-stay home!

 

[cyure]

Yeah. Same with 4x4 owners who believe that can drive on ice. Ice is ice and 4x4 is not the key factor in doing it successfully. Slow, constant movement and way more patience than I have. Per you-stay home!

Exactly. I have gotten good at going slow, learned to just take my foot off the gas and don’t brake until the car is going so slow you don’t slide, and thankfully they both only work about 6 miles from the house so I know the spots where the ice tends to hide.