Smoke When Charging [steam under certain conditions]

[ncridgerunner]

Hi, new member here. I'm sure this has been addressed before but I thought it might be of assistance to others. Just picked up my new Model YLR yesterday and am enjoying my first EV. Fortunately my SA found a car in inventory and even though I only ordered last Friday evening I was able to take delivery. Since I haven't received my wall charger yet I took my vehicle to a local super charger. When the car was nearing full charge suddenly smoke started rising from under the vehicle. Not having any experience with charging an EV it was pretty unnerving. I read today the quote from Tesla "The thermal system may produce steam under certain conditions if your vehicle is equipped with a heat pump (to determine if your vehicle has a heat pump, touch Controls > Software > Additional Vehicle Information). For example, odorless steam can come from the front of your vehicle while charging at a Supercharger in cold temperature. This is normal and not a cause for concern."

Wish I was aware of this before.

 

[Stewart]

This is very common during the colder months( steam emanating from the front), my experience. Agreed that it would be concerning

 

[LoudMusic]

The charging process produces a lot of heat. If it's cold outside you'll see steam. Kind of like ICE cars making steam out their tailpipe.

You should probably also be aware the car might make a loud thump noise from under the floorboard. Not sure if they've changed the design to eliminate that. If it does do that it's just the high voltage hardware flexing rapidly due to heating up and expanding, particularly in cold weather.

Enjoy the car!

 

[ncridgerunner]

The charging process produces a lot of heat. If it's cold outside you'll see steam. Kind of like ICE cars making steam out their tailpipe.

You should probably also be aware the car might make a loud thump noise from under the floorboard. Not sure if they've changed the design to eliminate that. If it does do that it's just the high voltage hardware flexing rapidly due to heating up and expanding, particularly in cold weather.

Enjoy the car!

Aha! Heard the thump noise several times but since a construction crew was building a bridge nearby, I thought is was some of the construction noise. My wall charger is scheduled to be here tomorrow and if UPS doesn't deliver too late, I should have it up and running tomorrow evening. (wire and breaker box connections already completed)

Thanks!

 

[jlpicardq]

Yeah, this happened to me once. Freaked me out... jumped out of my car, expecting to see it go up in flames.

 

[cenwesi]

Yep same thing with me the first time. It was only me at the SC and people where pointing at my car. Freaked me out. Only to find out it was normal venting

 

[bradtem]

Sounds like Tesla should detect when it's very cold and the heat pump is run and thus there is a chance of the steam, and put up a little note on the screen that steam can happen at that stage, and if it is odourless it is nothing to worry about.

 

[Pianewman]

Amazing to me how people think steam is "smoke,", and use the terms interchangeably.

 

[EVer Hopeful]

What? To make steam you have to have water and to continue making steam you have to continue providing water

I guess this must be water in the atmosphere, because I know I don't keep topping up the water tank in my Y

 

[MDElectric]

Yes, probably water in the atmosphere that froze on the Heat Pump/AC coil when heat pump was warming battery during initial charge. Then defrost cycle melted that ice causing warmed moist air to blow out into colder air and voila! Happens on home heat pumps all the time, especially when it’s cold but still humid enough for ice to form. First time it happened for me it was in 40s and rainy. I too jumped out of car.

 

[scurtis]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1634902634409897984

this was my car today lol

 

[GBMaryland]

It’s like an F 15 getting ready to takeoff…..

 

[scurtis]

It’s like an F 15 getting ready to takeoff…..

I have someone in my family who worked on f15s, I love the way the engines sound when the "turkey feathers" thrust nozzles change angles. Coolest mechanical sound.

 

[Crafty flower]

Amazing to me how people think steam is "smoke,", and use the terms interchangeably.

When it happens and you see it coming from your car for the first time.. it’s very very questionable.. first thought “smoke” is the car catching on fire!!?? Then you research and find out it’s steam. I had the same concern and just found out .. it’s steam like a minute ago.