Battery heater and 2017.50.x

[ArtInCT]

The battery heater icon will show up even if the car is not plugged in.

Hummmm.... Ok did not know that, good to know and also very important to be aware of for sure.

 

[lunitiks]

Ya @MorrisonHiker is right. So that’s why we have to watch our SOC / plan our next days a little bit more carefully if we’re not regularly connected and park in freezing environments, requiring cabin pre-heating (like I do)

 

[AWDtsla]

Observations on the battery heater ICON in the iPhone Tesla App.
After setting climate on with the Tesla App, it can take perhaps 1 minute for the app to display the battery pre-heat icon.
The S appears to have the following pre-requisits in addition:

The icon shows simply when the pack heater turns on. No discernable difference in the pack heater algorithm on with this update, and no additional control.

 

[Brass Guy]

According to the Model S software/firmware changelog, version 5.9 added the battery preheat feature. (I remember this change.)
So if I got this straight, the new differences are the notification icon in the app, and that it heats the battery even if not plugged in.

I'm not convinced the plugged in part is new either. I've been preheating my car at work for a while, and have on occasion been surprised how much regen was available; as I expected none. Still have to remember to turn range mode off. I turn it on when picking up lunch, because heating the battery then is just a waste.

 

[AWDtsla]

According to the Model S software/firmware changelog, version 5.9 added the battery preheat feature. (I remember this change.)
So if I got this straight, the new differences are the notification icon in the app, and that it heats the battery even if not plugged in.

I'm not convinced the plugged in part is new either. I've been preheating my car at work for a while, and have on occasion been surprised how much regen was available; as I expected none. Still have to remember to turn range mode off. I turn it on when picking up lunch, because heating the battery then is just a waste.

Yeah but that thing was prompted by an electrek article. Moral of the story is, don't believe anything you read on electrek.

 

[Solarman004]

Important related safety tip-- don't keep water-based liquids in the frunk when driving in single-digit temperatures for 10 hours. And don't put on any underwear from said frunk without running it past the hotel hair dryer first...

 

[ArtInCT]

Yah My Shave Cream recently froze up in my Gym Bag. We had some extended very cold weather here...