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Comment by serpix | Hacker News Reader

How cold does it get then? EVs are good to -35C and most cars should be ok down to -30C. Idling solves nothing about the frozen tires and stiff axles and shock absorbers. Best would be to insulate the car with a simple tarp and I bet -50C wouldn't be a problem.

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I live in Saskatchewan Canada these days, and you can see -40C to -50C relatively commonly just about anywhere on the prairies. I understand -40C isn't that rare in most of BC or Ontario either.

Around the places I've known (not Vancouver. Vancouver is special) - Diesel gets idled, and starting back up is careful. - Propane gets idled -35C and below and hopes it won't shut down. - Gas tends towards long startups but unless it's been left out all day without a block heater, it'll probably be fine. - Natural gas tends to need idling as per Diesel.

I've no experience with EVs though. But with lack of charging infrastructure throughout most of the Canadian prairies, it might be a while before it's a workable option here.

Keep in mind that with electric the equation is different when you have a home. For most, they can charge it to full each night and have it warm/ready the next day. 110v/15A is enough to keep it from discharging and a warm battery but below freezing a 220/30A or more is better. The install isnt usually that expensive for 30 or 50A if the panel has room too. And in new builds in many places, charge to the car will be required. But always being full each morning changes how we see it, the infra is for those that travel and long trips which are not the norm.

Many parking lots in Saskatchewan have block heater outlets at all parking spots. That's fantastic EV infrastructure.

Tangentially related. I remember a YouTube video about life in Siberia where they would build a tarp tent over their cars and build a fire under it to get it moving in the winter

This one? I recently watched it! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lH6r6J3WsDk

My Toyota auris hybrid battery never kicks in winter. It's a dead weight that makes fuel consumption worse. It helps a bit in the summer. I live in Scotland, so winters are pretty mild.

what would a tarp do to help?

i'm certain i'm overlooking something, because it's not like cars are generating heat to be reflected by a tarp, unless you mean a driven car, thus warm, covered by a tarp, would maintain its heat longer in -50c ?

The gas car is idling, and the EV car is running a heat pump.

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