Can you tell me about plugging in my car?
Note: The electric rates used in this article were current at the time of posting. Most current rates can be found here.
If your car has been winterized, you should have a plug coming out the front end of your car. Most winterization kits include an engine block heater, a battery pad heater, an oil pan heater and a three-way cord with a lighted end (so you can plug in all of these heaters.)
The Fairbanks North Star Borough recommends plugging in vehicles when the temperature dips below 20° F. But your car does not need to be plugged in all the time. If you did plug it in all of the time, your electric bill would skyrocket. For example, if you plugged in the average car (1,000 watt load) for 10 hours each night, the monthly electric cost would be about $69. Just two hours would run $14 per month.
A car really only needs about two hours of plugged in time to warm up. Also, typically, it takes about two hours for a car to cool down after it has been running. So, if you plan to drive your car again within two hours, there is no need to plug in. When the temperature reaches 20 below or colder, you may want to increase the amount of time your car is plugged in, but generally not more than four hours.
GVEA recommends purchasing a vehicle plug-in timer. Instead of waking up two hours early to plug in your car, let the timer do it for you.
For more information about plugging in and timers, check out GVEA’s YouTube video.
I am putting in new wiring in my house. I would like a timer in the house that is wired into the same wiring that my car will be plugged into. Do you have any suggestions? I want to be able to set the timer in the house and hopefully see by an indicator light when it’s on
Ronnie
Hi Ronnie,
This looks like a good idea and a licensed electrical contractor should be able to help you with the installation.
Joe,
You are correct: once the temperature dips below -20 F, plugging your car in for a longer period of time would be wise. This was noted in the post, but I’ve bolded it just to make sure it stands out.
I disagree with the above advice. Should an emergency arise and you need to move your vehicle and you don’t live a short walk from anyone else, the car needs to start. This is made possible (As they do at UAF) buy having the power go on for a period and then off for a period. If the timer waits until morning, just when you need it mopst at 35 or worse below zero in a family emergency you are out of luck.
So change your adfvice.
I agree with Ian. I drive my husbands truck since he’s deployed and it’s an Excursion that’s diesel. I used a timer on it and had it ready to come on 4 hours before heading to work. My truck sound horrible and if something happens to it, I will not be a happy person and neither will my husband. I have to have it plugged in all night and it’s seriously killing the bank account.
If you own a diesel the manufacturers recommend plugged in at 40 degrees or colder.
If you only give a diesel 4 hours after sitting for a night at negative 35 you might not be so happy, that is an even greater problem if you made the mistake of buying an all aluminum diesel engine. That’s why you’ll see a lot of duramaxes Plugged in all night long no timer. Electric is going through the roof so you’ll probably see plenty of people pinching a penny and costing them selves a motor. I have a young child with special needs and many emergency/inpatient visits, I can’t imagine a 20 minute wait for an ambulance to get to her because my truck wasn’t ready to go.
can a truck set for wi winter -30 no heater on engine? make it. jeff
Jeff, we recommend all vehicles be plugged in when temperatures are 20°F or colder. Usually two to four hours of heating is sufficient. However, the colder it gets, like -30°, you should increase the heating time. The condition and age of the vehicle can influence the amount of time needed for heating as well.