[ausev] Cold Weather and lead acid batteries/plugging in at work

[Claire Sorenson]

Hi guys,

FYI - I am also experiencing lower charge and lower range for my Ranger EV.
It started as soon as the cold weather hit.  The battery pack is also 1 year
and 3 months old, so I would expect a certain amount of decreased range with
age, but this was not a gradual shift, so I assumed it also had to do with
the cold.  Until a couple of weeks ago, I could get to work and back on a
little over half a charge, and now it takes the full charge.

Given my reduced range, I have talked to the CFO at my office and they will
let me install an outlet so I can plug the truck in while I am working.
Since our CFO plans on trading his Prius in on a Plug In Prius as soon as
they are available, he decided to add another outlet and share the cost of
the installation (thank goodness, since it is turning out to be pretty
expensive).  I was hoping that Austin Energy might have an incentive program
available for employers who would like to provide outlets for employees who
drive EV's, but when I spoke with a friend at Austin Energy he said there is
nothing in place yet.  If we owned the building we occupy, we could get an
income tax deduction, but that is all that is available right now in Austin.

-- 
Claire Sorenson
512-689-5911
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