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[weck]

Living in the frozen white north (Wisconsin), we regularly see stretches where it does not get above 0 C / 32 F.   I'd like to use the LPR function when I put the bike away for the season, however this is air cooled battery with no conditioning, so charging below freezing is no good. 

Does anyone know if the LPR function takes temperature into account?  Or am I better off just charging it to 100% and checking on it every 30 days (per the manual)?

Almost considering if I can maybe use a smart plug on the charger (at 120v) and only turn on the power if it gets to 40 degrees or warmer...

Has anyone else dealt with sub freezing storage and charging?

[Fran K]

Generally it is best to avoid charging to 100% unless you are going for a ride real soon.  You would want to store it at 50% or so.  I would read the manual for that particular motorcycle there is likely a half page or so pertaining to this  I can say Makita power tool batteries don't seem to mind being stored sub freezing and even fully charged though they likely set the bms different than a motorcycle for what voltage and cell type are in them.  For me and my ktm I have the choice of bringing in the battery to a warmer spot but have done drop cloth over the motorcycle and heat source a couple of times when I wanted to use it in the colder seasons.

[MVetter]

That's really not what he's asking.

Now, without consulting someone official like Chris, I *suspect* you'll be fine. The LPR function wakes up and checks on the bike's voltage and, if needed, charges it a little. And if you use a level 1 EVSE we're talking a couple amps. The batteries do not like to operate in sub freezing weather, but you're basically just talking trickle charge if it needs to adjust itself at all.

[cscherer@bluewin.ch]

I agree with MVetter. It is far better to keep it in the LPR mode than leaving it without. The main purpose of the LPR mode is to keep the cells balanced. Also I didn't find a value in the manual that warns you from store in deep temperatures.

[weck]

the manual is a little schizophrenic in this area...

It recommends LPR, but if you cannot, recommends charging to 100% at least once a month (I'm in the don't store it there camp like others mentioned), but then also recommends against charging below freezing.

I did email out to CA and the response I got was they are pretty sure the BMS will not allow charging below 10c/14f, so I'm probably A-OK just leaving it on LPR all winter.

[smithy]

the manual is a little schizophrenic in this area...

It recommends LPR, but if you cannot, recommends charging to 100% at least once a month (I'm in the don't store it there camp like others mentioned), but then also recommends against charging below freezing.

I did email out to CA and the response I got was they are pretty sure the BMS will not allow charging below 10c/14f, so I'm probably A-OK just leaving it on LPR all winter.

Ummm...10C isn't 14F....10C is actually 50F.

Smithy.

[PWM]

I did email out to CA and the response I got was they are pretty sure the BMS will not allow charging below 10c/14f, so I'm probably A-OK just leaving it on LPR all winter.

Given the poor temperature calibration Energica bikes exhibit it would be foolish IMO to invoke LPR mode if one knows temperatures will dip below freezing.  Anode plating results at any charge rate which permanently depletes lithium available.

Fashion a thermostat that activates above freezing that enables the charger to operate in conjunction to LPR mode would be the better approach, IMO.

[SwampNut]

If I lived in a place that freezes, I'd bring the bike into the house.  Think about it; no gas/oil fumes, no reason not to.  I've already done it when I got my bike and it was too hot outside to want to work on it.

Actually if I lived in a place that freezes I'd put the bike in a U-haul, with my other stuff and get the hell out of there, but still...

[Motoproponent]

Actually if I lived in a place that freezes I'd put the bike in a U-haul, with my other stuff and get the hell out of there, but still...

Not to threadjack, but this. So much this ^^^

My Dad keeps talking about his paid off house that will be mine some day...In Akron Ohio. I keep telling him to mortgage the shit out of it and go with hookers and blow till he goes out with a smile. Use that money to have the time of his life for as much of his lifetime there is because......

When he kicks it I'm selling it for a nickel and keeping my happy ass on the west coast. Unless climate change goes waaaaayyy sideways,, I will die without ever having shoveled another driveway, so help me god!!

[Specter]

Charging or not, if the batteries get cold and freeze that will probably F them up pretty good.  THink expanding water, plates cracking, stuff like that happening to them.

Get a U haul or a small shed, put a little space heater in it to keep the temp at 40 degrees and keep bike in there and then charge if you must.   Just an idea.

Aaron

[weck]

the manual is a little schizophrenic in this area...

It recommends LPR, but if you cannot, recommends charging to 100% at least once a month (I'm in the don't store it there camp like others mentioned), but then also recommends against charging below freezing.

I did email out to CA and the response I got was they are pretty sure the BMS will not allow charging below 10c/14f, so I'm probably A-OK just leaving it on LPR all winter.

Ummm...10C isn't 14F....10C is actually 50F.

Smithy.

-10C ... dropped the dash

[weck]

Charging or not, if the batteries get cold and freeze that will probably F them up pretty good.  THink expanding water, plates cracking, stuff like that happening to them.

Get a U haul or a small shed, put a little space heater in it to keep the temp at 40 degrees and keep bike in there and then charge if you must.   Just an idea.

Aaron

Manual says the bike can be operated down to -20C/-4F (which I sure as hell ain't gonna do).  This is in line with other LiIon rules of thumb, can discharge down to 0F but not charge below freezing. 

Regardless, the garage, even unheated, will rarely get that cold unless we have a severe multi day cold snap (-10F lows and never getting above 0, rare to get more than 3-4 days like that in a winter here but it does happen...)

[weck]

I did email out to CA and the response I got was they are pretty sure the BMS will not allow charging below 10c/14f, so I'm probably A-OK just leaving it on LPR all winter.

Given the poor temperature calibration Energica bikes exhibit it would be foolish IMO to invoke LPR mode if one knows temperatures will dip below freezing.  Anode plating results at any charge rate which permanently depletes lithium available.

Fashion a thermostat that activates above freezing that enables the charger to operate in conjunction to LPR mode would be the better approach, IMO.

Yeah, this is what I am still worried about as everything says charging LiIon below freezing is bad. 

Anyway, ordered an Amazon Echo dot on black friday for a whopping $22. and have a couple spare smart plugs lying around already.  5 minutes to create a routine and bob's your uncle. 

The newer dots have a temperature sensor in them which makes for a very easy and cheap plug/play solution, and it plays music!

[Pard]

My garage is unheated and it gets below freezing in the winter around here all the time.

I put the bike on a rear stand, and turn the bike on to run mode, kickstand up, and let it sit and get the electrons flowing warming the battery a bit.

At the same time, I use a hair dryer positioned to blow against the battery for about an hour before charging and it does the job well enough to start the charging process.

I start the charge at 5 amps for a half hour to further warm the battery, then go to the full 15Amp level 2.

Works.

I ride with full body heated gear.  If you can snowmobile in the winter and deal with the cold, why not enjoy motorcycling! 

[Pard]

You can monitor the battery temps from the engineering screen.