Preconditioning

Warming or cooling the cabin and battery before you need them, ideally while the car is still plugged in.

Last reviewed

Preconditioning means bringing the car to a suitable temperature before you need it. The US Department of Energy says many EVs can heat the cabin and battery before driving this way, and that it is best done while the car is still charging.

The range case is energy source. Fueleconomy.gov says preheating the cabin while plugged in can extend an EV's range, and that about two-thirds of the extra energy an EV uses in cold weather goes to heating the cabin. A DOE Vehicle Technologies Office record explains why: while plugged in, the energy comes directly from the grid, preserving battery energy for driving. In its test data at 20°F, preconditioning reduced energy use by 9% to 20% on a short city cycle.

The battery side matters too. The Australian Government lists battery temperature among the factors that set DC charging speed. Whether and how a car warms its battery ahead of a fast-charging stop varies by model, so check the manual and spec sheet.

  1. US Department of Energy, Winterizing Your Electric Vehicle
    US Department of Energy Accessed
  2. US DOE Vehicle Technologies Office, Impact of Cold Ambient Temperature and Extreme Conditions on Electric Vehicles
    US Department of Energy Accessed
  3. US fueleconomy.gov, Fuel Economy in Cold Weather
    US Department of Energy and US EPA Accessed
  4. Australian Government, Electric vehicle charging equipment
    Australian Government Accessed

Back to the glossary