gschettl
Active member
For those pushing their 2012 LEAF range limit in cold weather. Here is the detailed procedure I go through to go 50 miles round trip in minus -10°F temps: Use Maps.google.com to find the shortest route but the longest time if there are similar routes (longest time correlates somewhat to the desired slowest average speed).
Day prior, set charge timer for a 100% charge. Set Climate Control temp to 61°F, chest & feet vent mode, recirculate, fan on high and then OFF button. Aim outboard dashboard vents toward side windows so you get a spot of defrosted area and can see your mirrors. Driver's seat heat on, steering wheel heat on. Set CC timer to pre-heat with your departure time. The pre-heat will cost you ~3 miles of range on a level 2 charger but saves ~6. Pre-heating from a 100% charge doesn't harm the battery since it makes no attempt to get back to 100%. I do my outbound trip using only a pre-heated cabin and blips of defrost.
Departing with a heat soaked cabin from an insulated garage ~ 15°F, (not heated) and 3 bars of battery temperature, shove the kids into the car quickly opening only one door at a time. Deal with seatbelt issues after all are in the car & doors closed. Use defrost button only as needed, like 10 second blips and the key is to remember to turn it back off using the defrost button again, (acts like a toggle switch). If you touch the fan + or - button, it won't toggle to those same setpoints anymore.
Return trip, shove the kids into the car quickly opening only one door at a time & slam door. Use 61°F, floor & chest vent mode & recirculate rather than OFF. If you begin your return trip at 6 SOC bars remaining or less, you may need to drive slower on the way home since you'll divert more energy to cabin heat.
This is all based on a trip where the LEAF says I average 37 mph, (and speed is critical) I do this trip twice a week near Minneapolis with some hills & valleys. Good luck to the brave.
Recently I've been experimenting with some small computer fans to evaporate the fog from the side windows before the air has time to condensate. I'll report back if it proves helpful next winter.
Day prior, set charge timer for a 100% charge. Set Climate Control temp to 61°F, chest & feet vent mode, recirculate, fan on high and then OFF button. Aim outboard dashboard vents toward side windows so you get a spot of defrosted area and can see your mirrors. Driver's seat heat on, steering wheel heat on. Set CC timer to pre-heat with your departure time. The pre-heat will cost you ~3 miles of range on a level 2 charger but saves ~6. Pre-heating from a 100% charge doesn't harm the battery since it makes no attempt to get back to 100%. I do my outbound trip using only a pre-heated cabin and blips of defrost.
Departing with a heat soaked cabin from an insulated garage ~ 15°F, (not heated) and 3 bars of battery temperature, shove the kids into the car quickly opening only one door at a time. Deal with seatbelt issues after all are in the car & doors closed. Use defrost button only as needed, like 10 second blips and the key is to remember to turn it back off using the defrost button again, (acts like a toggle switch). If you touch the fan + or - button, it won't toggle to those same setpoints anymore.
Return trip, shove the kids into the car quickly opening only one door at a time & slam door. Use 61°F, floor & chest vent mode & recirculate rather than OFF. If you begin your return trip at 6 SOC bars remaining or less, you may need to drive slower on the way home since you'll divert more energy to cabin heat.
This is all based on a trip where the LEAF says I average 37 mph, (and speed is critical) I do this trip twice a week near Minneapolis with some hills & valleys. Good luck to the brave.
Recently I've been experimenting with some small computer fans to evaporate the fog from the side windows before the air has time to condensate. I'll report back if it proves helpful next winter.