OK, then isn't the conclusion here that in cold climates, ride share companies, and especially the rental agencies!, should tell the rental drivers to get an LR AWD only?While this video showed impressive charging speed, it's not always possible to replicate for some Tesla drivers, like the ones in Chicago, I'll explain:
1. Video guy drove 78km on highways and could pre-condition the entire way, using 11% battery capacity just for preconditioning
2. He's driving an AWD model which could generate more waste heat for more effective pre-conditioning
3. His car had plenty of time to precondition, well over half an hour, also had enough battery life left for the car to go full bore on generate waste heat
4. His car doesn't have a LFP pack which is both heavier and less energy dense with chemistry that's less reactive in colder temperatures
For someone driving for ride share in Chicago using a new LFP RWD Model 3, for example, even assuming that the superchargers work perfectly (which some of them definitely didn't for various reasons), all 4 of those points would work against them. They would have less time to precondition, less waste heat generated, more battery mass to heat up, and without home charging, they'd be starting off at a lower battery %, which makes the car less willing to waste energy to precondition.
While it is obvious that an EV, especially a Tesla definitely can work and charge fine in extreme cold weather, there are use cases that EVs are not good for. Usable, but much less than ideal. Ride share in a LFP RWD is definitely not a use case I would recommend.
ps. Notice how the video car used 25kwh for 78km. Imagine a RWD or a SR+ with 50-55kwh usable energy, and add in another 10-15% buffer so you don't run the pack dry... the usable range in -35c is absymal, and with less effective precondition than shown, even with superchargers that work and doesn't have lines, you're looking at driving maybe 150km, then having to charge for 40 minutes (if not more). Not ideal.
Isn't it really the fault of the rental agencies for selling the drivers on a cheap solution they shouldn't offer in winter?
I'm surprised it makes such a huge difference, but apparently that's really the answer, that newbs pushing their rented standard range LFP RWDs too far are the majority of the cause of the "Great Chicago Winter 24 Tesla Mass Fail". That along with a few more dead chargers than usual.
-TPC