California Highway Patrol Warns About Cold Weather Impact on Electric Vehicles
California is known for its beaches, but the state’s climate can vary. This is especially felt in the mountain town of Truckee, which reportedly received over 25 centimeters of snow in the last 24 hours.
While snow is common for the Sierra Nevada, some people are not accustomed to cold conditions. Among them appears to be the driver of a Rivian R1S electric vehicle, who learned firsthand how weather can affect range.
Incident with a Drained Battery
On its Facebook page, the California Highway Patrol posted a short video showing a Rivian R1S, apparently completely drained, in the middle of a snow-covered intersection. Authorities did not specify the details of the incident but posted a warning message.
Cold weather drains batteries faster than you think. If you are traveling over a pass, make sure your charge level matches your confidence level.
The police also advised drivers to fully charge their vehicles, reduce speed, and carry snow chains. However, it seems that along with useful advice, law enforcement allowed themselves to joke about electric vehicles and the driver, adding the hashtags #ItsElectric and #MakeGoodDecisions to the post.
Another Incident and Public Reaction
Last week, the police already joked about a Tesla driver who lost control and veered off the road. That post noted that after chain control restrictions were lifted, some drivers took it as a personal challenge. That publication was also accompanied by ironic hashtags.
It seems that such a tone for publications has become customary for the Truckee police department, although the criticism is not only aimed at electric vehicle drivers. Part of the audience perceives it with humor. One popular comment under the post states: “My new winter goal is to not end up on your social media page.”
These incidents remind us of the importance of considering weather conditions, especially in the mountains, regardless of the type of vehicle. Cold weather can indeed significantly reduce the efficiency of batteries, making trip planning, including range, even more critical. At the same time, the tone of the messages from law enforcement sparks a discussion about how useful and neutral official public safety warnings should be. Such cases can also serve as practical examples for electric vehicle manufacturers in improving driver information systems about real range in extreme conditions.