Tesla Owners Struggle To Charge Cars in Freezing Cold

Chicago’s recent icy grip has brought a wave of frustration for Tesla owners. They’re struggling to charge their vehicles as the plummeting cold temperatures have, quite literally, frozen this electric miracle.

The problem became glaringly apparent when Tesla supercharging stations around Chicago started to look like car graveyards. The biting cold has driven the temperature into negative double digits, making it difficult for Tesla electric vehicles to charge properly.

One driver, Tyler Beard, spent six hours across two days at a Tesla supercharging station in Oak Brook, Illinois, only to find his vehicle still at 0% charge. This is not an isolated incident, as a number of Tesla owners have been unable to charge their cars. Long lines and abandoned Teslas are now a common sight at these charging stations.

Chalis Mizelle, another Tesla owner, described the situation as a disaster. She was left with no choice but to abandon her car at the charging station and hitch a ride home with a friend. It is indeed a staggering scene, like experiencing a post-apocalyptic world, with numerous “dead robots,” as one man succinctly put it.

Just when you think the situation can’t get worse, consider Kevin Sumrak’s predicament. He landed at Chicago O’Hare International Airport to find his Tesla unresponsive and incapable of starting. He had to hire a flatbed tow truck to transport his vehicle to a functioning charging station.

“It’s not plug and go. You have to precondition the battery, meaning that you have to get the battery up to the optimal temperature to accept a fast charge.”

Mark Bilek, Chicago Auto Trade Association, via FOX Business

Evidently, extremely cold weather can affect the ability of electric vehicles to charge effectively. This becomes a substantial challenge when temperatures drop to severe lows in places where Tesla owners live and travel.