Preconditioning means heating or cooling the battery, and often the cabin, to a target temperature before you drive or arrive at a fast charger. A battery at the right temperature accepts DC fast charging much faster and delivers more range. When you precondition while plugged in at home, the energy comes from the grid rather than the battery.
Two Kinds
| Type | When | Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Departure preconditioning | While plugged in before a trip | Warm cabin and battery without using driving range |
| Charging preconditioning | On the way to a DC fast charger | Faster fast-charging sessions, especially in cold weather |
How to Use It
- Set a departure time in the car or app while plugged in.
- Navigate to a fast charger with the car’s built-in navigation; many cars precondition automatically.
- Some cars offer a manual “precondition for charging” button.
Why It Matters in Winter
Cold batteries limit charging power to protect the cells, so a cold arrival at a fast charger can mean a much slower session. See cold-weather EV charging and how fast is a DC fast charger.
Preconditioning while connected works best on Level 2, which supplies enough power for heating and charging; for example the EVDANCE EV-ACT5006T 48A Level 2 wall charger or EVDANCE EV-ACS4005T 40A NACS portable charger.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does preconditioning use a lot of energy?
Some, but when plugged in it comes from the grid, not the battery.
Should I precondition before fast charging?
Yes, especially in cold weather.
Can I precondition on Level 1?
Yes, but Level 1 may not supply enough power for both heating and charging.
Related Reading
Key Takeaways
- Preconditioning warms or cools the battery before driving or charging.
- It speeds up DC fast charging in cold weather.
- Do it while plugged in to save range.