Scott,
Are you ready for this? Are you sitting down? This is what you need to do:
#1, Work you way down in temps gradually, meaning don't use heat from now until January and you will get used to a colder car over time without any big issues. You can't go cold turkey from heat to no heat suddenly in the winter, that will be harder.
#2 The sun will do wonders taking the edge off the cold inside the car. I have said it before and I have to say it again, if you don't use heat in the fall you will get used it to and its really not that bad, unless the temp is quite cold, like below 0F. Most days in MA the average temp is around 30F, that's a cakewalk with no heat, really.
#3 Yes charging before leaving is a good idea, it will warm the car up slightly. Also if you're plugged into 240v, you can use GO times to take the edge of some. But don't plan on heating up the car, it will go away very quickly when you unplug and drive off, as you have to crack the windows to prevent fogging.
#4 Don't waste the battery on heat, and don't wear out the battery on heat. The battery has infinite cycles and kwh that can go in and out of it. Save it for miles not for heat. You're going to drive this car alot, the battery you want to benefit from it from miles. What does this mean? Sure there might be free electric at work, but because of that you shouldn't use battery heat in the AM going to work and then try to drive home at night without the heat. If you do that then #1 you will wear the battery out quicker because you're drawing it more and recharging it more, and #2 you will get used to heat in the morning and freeze on the way home in the PM. If you just get used to no heat, trust me it won't be as bad as you think.
#5 On longer trips and if/when you start the engine, remember to wait several minutes BEFORE turning the heat on. The coolant temp needs to come up above 140F before you can get engine heat. If you don't have a SG then your temp gage from the car in MyView should be almost 1/2 way up before you can turn heat on. Otherwise you will use battery electric heat to aid the engine to warm up the coolant. You can verify this by setting MyView to Climate power on the left and coolant temp on the right. Just remember this and wait until warmed up THEN turn on the heat. Also if the engine is cycling on and off in hybrid mode, watch the temp gage and/or the climate draw, if it starts to come up (drawing current for heat) then either run the engine some or turn the heat off.
#6 If on a long trip with heat, and you have say 10 miles to get home on EV power after getting off the highway. The last 10 miles on the highway while the engine is running turn the heat up to 85 to warm up the cabin even more. Then when you get off the highway and shut off the engine to go on EV power turn the heat back down to 70F and watch the climate screen. Once you consume all the heat left in the engine and the climate starts to draw power from the battery for heat, turn the heat off and drive the rest of the way without it. You can use recirculate when the heat is running to extend the run time (without the engine) and once the heat if off if the windows start to fog up then that's it you have to crack them and no more heat but at least you're perhaps 75% of the way home on those last 10 miles. Just a thought and idea for you.
Remember, wear a nice winter coat, gloves, and long johns or sweat pants below your jeans, plus some warm boots (not sneakers they breath and are very cold) and if you keep your legs and feet warm you'll be fine inside and outside the car. Sneakers are not good shoes for winter. Many people make that mistake, cold feet = a cold body so pick some shoes that are waterproof those will be much warmer. I found out that I get so used to no heat in the winter that I don't even care to preheat the car any more, seriously. I'm happier with the car as is, and I don't waste electricity on heating it from the plug, even if its free. But naturally up to you. Just telling you what you *could* get used to. Will wait and see what happens to you once old man Winter sets in. Let me know keep us updated on how you make out.
Best regards,
-=>Raja.
Edited by rbort, 12 August 2018 - 07:47 PM.