AVOID SLOW CHARGING IN THE COLD! HERE'S WHY YOU HAVE TO "YO-YO" YOUR EV HEADING TO DC FAST CHARGE

EV Channels Review

This video investigates the impact of cold weather on EV charging speeds, specifically using two identical 2023 Volkswagen ID.4s. The core finding is that without built-in battery preconditioning, a 'yo-yo' driving technique—alternating aggressive acceleration and full regenerative braking—can significantly heat the battery and dramatically improve charging speeds. The 'yo-yoed' ID.4 reached 60% state of charge in just 19 minutes, while the car driven normally took a full hour under identical 3-degree Fahrenheit conditions. While this method consumes more energy and may raise concerns about battery degradation, the reviewer argues it's a worthwhile trade-off to avoid excessively long charging times in extreme cold, especially for road trips or when home charging isn't an option. The video highlights the necessity of understanding such EV quirks for owners in colder climates.