abasile said:
GRA said:
I expect we'll be reading accounts this winter of Leafers stuck on a freeway in really cold weather when the road gets shut down for an accident, and running out of charge. No big deal here in coastal California, but I'd hate to be in the situation of having to decide between running my heater for a couple of hours in temps at or below zero to avoid frostbite/hypothermia, or else being able to get off the freeway unassisted. In those kinds of conditions, I'd want to have a reserve that would give me at least 2 hours of heater/defroster use in addition to the range requirement, and that really sinks a Leaf-range car's practical commute range.
There is a simple solution to this. No matter what kind of vehicle one is driving, it is always wise to carry an extra blanket and extra clothing when driving in winter conditions. Gasoline cars can and will occasionally break down and strand their occupants in poor conditions. Driving a battery-powered car, the concern is not so much the possibility of mechanical breakdown, but rather preserving enough charge to complete the drive. If I find myself stuck behind an accident in frigid conditions, I am not going to run my LEAF's heater continuously. I will instead take out the warm blanket and extra jacket that I keep in the trunk, right next to my tire chains and charging adapters. If it's really cold, maybe consider keeping a couple of quality, compact sleeping bags in the trunk; they are great for keeping warm in an emergency. This isn't hard, and would be good advice for all cold-weather drivers.
I'm late to this part of the thread (from Dec 2011 as I make my way through it), but thought I should mention two simple inexpensive options I've found helpful for keeping warm in below freezing weather. Both of them would easily fit in a normal glove compartment, so it's easy to carry a few of each in the corner of the trunk. Hopefully some here will find this info helpful.
1. Emergency blanket (aluminum coated plastic that reflects back about 95%+ of body heat) for about $2.
A friend and I used a pair to wrap up in and sleep a few hours sitting in the front seats of a cargo van in Portland one winter with snow on the ground waiting for my return flight to So Cal after driving up with him. We were surprised at how well they worked.
2. ThermaCare heating belt for several dollars. You can also buy other sizes, but the belt is easy to put on and keeps you plenty warm.
These are packets of an iron mixture that heats up due to oxidation upon opening the package. They say they keep you warm up to 8 hours, but I've found they last a lot longer.
I've also used PCM (phase change material) like pouches of sodium acetate aka "hot ice" that when triggered releases latent thermal energy in an exothermic reaction at a fairly constant 113 degrees fahrenheit. They are rechargeable and reusable a number of times.
From Wikipedia:
"Heating pad
Sodium acetate is also used in consumer heating pads or hand warmers and is also used in hot ice. Sodium acetate trihydrate crystals melt at 58.4°C,[4] (to 58°C [5]) dissolving in their water of crystallization. When they are heated to around 100°C, and subsequently allowed to cool, the aqueous solution becomes supersaturated. This solution is capable of cooling to room temperature without forming crystals. By clicking on a metal disc in the heating pad, a nucleation centre is formed which causes the solution to crystallize into solid sodium acetate trihydrate again. The bond-forming process of crystallization is exothermic.[6][7][8] The latent heat of fusion is about 264–289 kJ/kg.[5] Unlike some other types of heat packs that depend on irreversible chemical reactions, sodium acetate heat packs can be easily recharged by placing in boiling water for a few minutes until all crystals are dissolved; they can be reused many times."
As an experiment I am planning on testing other PCMs such as those used in greenhouses and other buildings to reduce thermal cycling in my existing ICE. Since I live in the Idaho panhandle, I'm looking for ways to mitigate cold weather effects on the LEAF's range before I get one. When I'm further along, I will post my progress and results for others to consider. Note that these PCMs should work both ways in keeping the LEAF warmer in cold temperatures and cooler in hot temperatures.
My primary interest in the 100 Mile Club is learning how to maximize the LEAF's range especially in colder weather to make it a viable solution for our next car. Our typical week involves one or two 40-50 mile round trips during the week and one 75-80 mile trip on Saturdays. Occasionally we have one day that involves multiple errands resulting in 95-110 miles of travel with little time for recharging and we have limited charge options in the area (Spokane, Washington).
