>> Expected range plummeted from 500km to 300km. Actual range was more like 250km, probably thanks to the cold temperatures.
It is currently -17c where I am. Expected to go down to -28c in the next couple days. A 250km range in winter is simply unacceptable in my area (northernish canada). That is only a couple hours at highway speeds. But the real killer remains the absolute temperature limits on the batteries. If it cannot handle -45c without invalidating some warranty, then it just isn't useable. I cannot afford to spend that sort of money on something that I cannot park outside.
Common? They are ubiquitous. You won't see them at the mall, but every job location has them. At my work there are 4-foot poles at the end of every parking stall (1-pole for 4 spots) with outlets for everyone. The reality is that most cars start easily down to about -20 without external heat.
But those outlets mean nothing in term of whether I can buy an EV. If the power goes out then we loose those outlets. Or what if I need to park somewhere without outlets such as at the airport? It is one thing for a car to not start. You can always tow it and warm it up somewhere else. But a car that will take damage if it gets cold is totally unacceptable.
I agree with you, which makes me think that there's a misconception here. That seems completely insane, you can't predict the weather, especially say if you've parked at the airport for 2 weeks.
I think your info might be just out of date. I don't see any references to specific temps, just normal don't be dumb stuff (like exposing the battery to a fire)
It is currently -17c where I am. Expected to go down to -28c in the next couple days. A 250km range in winter is simply unacceptable in my area (northernish canada). That is only a couple hours at highway speeds. But the real killer remains the absolute temperature limits on the batteries. If it cannot handle -45c without invalidating some warranty, then it just isn't useable. I cannot afford to spend that sort of money on something that I cannot park outside.