Yeah, I totally get what you're saying about the windshield fogging issue. Had a similar experience myself last winter. Thought I'd be clever and save battery by just using seat warmers and bundling up in layers—figured cabin heat was a luxury I could skip. Worked fine for about half an hour, but then the windshield started fogging up pretty badly. Tried cracking open a window slightly, thinking fresh air might help, but that just made things colder without really clearing the glass.
Ended up having to pull over at a rest stop to run the defroster full blast for a few minutes. It cleared things up, but man, watching that battery percentage drop was nerve-wracking. After that, I realized cabin heat isn't just about comfort—it's genuinely important for safety. Visibility is something you can't compromise on, especially in winter conditions.
Since then, I've been more cautious about balancing energy conservation with practicality. Now I preheat the car while it's still plugged in at home, so at least I'm starting off warm and clear. Then during the drive, I alternate between short bursts of defrost and lower-level cabin heat settings to keep things manageable. It's not perfect, but it helps avoid those stressful moments when you're squinting through foggy glass or anxiously eyeing your battery gauge.
Anyway, just wanted to say you're definitely not alone in this struggle—it's all about finding that sweet spot between efficiency and safety.
Interesting approach, but honestly, I've found that cracking open the window slightly does actually help with fogging—just not right away. It takes a bit of patience (and a thicker jacket). Last winter, I stubbornly refused to use cabin heat at all because I was on a tight energy budget and had underestimated my range. After some trial and error, I realized that keeping the window slightly open from the start, rather than waiting until the windshield fogged up, prevented the issue altogether.
Granted, it wasn't exactly luxurious cruising around in freezing temps with cold air trickling in, but it did the trick for shorter trips. For longer drives, though, I definitely agree that preheating while plugged in is the smarter move. Still, if you're really pinching battery percentages, layering up and strategically timing your defrosting bursts can be surprisingly effective—if a bit uncomfortable. But hey, sometimes frugality means sacrificing a little comfort for peace of mind...and battery range.
"Granted, it wasn't exactly luxurious cruising around in freezing temps with cold air trickling in, but it did the trick for shorter trips."
Haha, been there! I totally agree—cracking the window early really helps. Another thing I've noticed is that keeping a microfiber cloth handy to quickly wipe down the windshield can make a big difference. Sure, it's a bit old-school and not exactly glamorous, but when you're trying to squeeze every last mile out of your battery, every little trick counts...especially on those chilly mornings.
I get the microfiber cloth trick, but honestly, I've found it more hassle than it's worth. Last winter, I tried keeping one handy, and it just ended up damp and frozen stiff after a few wipes—pretty useless at that point. Instead, I've started preheating the car for just a couple minutes while plugged in. Yeah, it might shave off a bit of range initially, but it beats fumbling around with a frozen cloth at every stoplight...
"Last winter, I tried keeping one handy, and it just ended up damp and frozen stiff after a few wipes—pretty useless at that point."
Haha, been there! Here's my foolproof method for winter EV survival:
Step 1: Forget the microfiber cloth—it's basically an ice cube after two uses.
Step 2: Preheat the car while plugged in (like you said), but also crank up the defroster to max for a minute or two.
Step 3: Keep a cheap plastic scraper handy for emergencies. Trust me, your credit card isn't as durable as you think...
Step 4: Accept that winter driving means sacrificing a bit of range for sanity.
