I saw this today, it seems even the Tesla has range variables. The reviewer used , I think, to much heating and yet expected a no heating range.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/10/automobiles/stalled-on-the-ev-highway.html
I think all cars need to have a wee sticker that shows on the dash, the range from full with differing configureations, as well as the gauge that changes when you drive.
I think though that doing what Volvo did, that is adding a liquid fuel heater is proberbly a good idea for very cold climates, and the use of better insulation, I think some car makers use double glazing and that would help as would insulating the floor and roof, and sides of the car.
To those that really what to be all electric, for the imiev we are simply adding a on board extra set of batteries, and running that through an inverter, to run a 2. 4 Kw electric heater. If it can keep a house room warm no problem, it should cope with a car easily, perhaps even on 1. 5 Kw setting.
Two lithium batteries of 5kw each would easily have enough to run the heater to 50 % SOC for 2 hours or to flat, for 4 hours or so.
Or this extra capacity could be used to recharge anywhere and use the on board heater. This would give the on board heater about two hours use on max. And a range of about 100 Km / 61 miles.
For those who only need say one hour of 2.4 Kw heat, and need the 100 km range, a 3 kw lithium would not be fully flat after an hour, and it could be set up to recharge along with the main battery, while at work, for the trip back.
I wish the imiev came from the factory though with 25 Kw built in, and that would take away all the problems we currently find with range at 100 km @ 100 m hour, no heater or aircon on.
25 Kw would give us about 155 km range, enough for us to do the trip out to our storage land and back without worry. We could even have the heater on, on the way back. about 45 minutes or 2. 4 kw used or about 2-3 bars on the 5.5 Kw heater on max. rough figures.and still have bars spare.
