“Preconditioning your battery for supercharge”

What does this mean? Is it code for ‘conserve your energy for a boost coming soon?’

You felt lucky enough to have rented a Tesla $200 cheaper than last year‘s rental. Plus you could return it to Philadelphia (on route to Sarasota) for no extra charge. You have a cool EV car for a weekly rate of less than $200!

You took the friendly Thrifty attendant’s advice, “Don’t drive too fast!”

And then, outside of Albany, driving to the Adirondacks from NYC, you look at your battery level – what was 90% had spiraled down to less than 50; and then, a bit later, you’re at 30 and then you realize, dang, you should’ve asked the sweet attendant how to plot out the charging protocol instead of how to work the radio.

Trust the car. This message appears (think Goethe: ‘when the student is ready, the teacher appears’): “preconditioning for supercharge.” And the car’s google map guides you to a Saratoga Stewart’s charging port.

All ports are full, and after waiting for a few minutes, you start your charge. Easy to plug in and 20 minutes later, you’re on the road again.

And, yes, you may have learned a lesson. If you want to, then do, by all means, go ahead – completely forget to plot your next charge. But know that there will be a spiraling down of energy which may cause charging anxiety. Even panic.

So wherever you are this New Year’s, my wish for you in 2024 is for all of your charging anxiety to be paired with a preconditioning for a super boost!