Can I warm up my vehicle during a Hilo challenge?

Of course! Most electric vehicles can be warmed up using only the energy remaining in the battery. By taking energy already stored in the battery instead of from the grid, you’ll maximize your energy efficiency during the challenge. While you’ll lose a few kilometres in terms of range for that day, depending on the intensity and length of time you spend warming up the vehicle, it’s still a good option if you don’t plan on needing the entire capacity of your battery the day of the challenge.

So how do you do this?

With Hilo’s smart solution for electric vehicle charging, everything is automated, which means your car won’t consume energy through the charger during the challenge.

However, if you think you’ll need your battery’s full capacity on the day of the challenge, you have two options:

• Warm up the vehicle before the reduction phase of the challenge. This will maximize your potential reward without any loss of range. This option might be useful if you plan on leaving soon after the start of the challenge. The amount of cooling off experienced in the interim depends on a number of factors, such as the outdoor temperature and your vehicle model.
• Exclude your charger from the challenge, ideally 20 minutes before your scheduled departure. In this case, your potential reward will be reduced. Note: If the battery wasn’t fully charged by the start of the challenge, your vehicle might consume more energy than needed for the warm-up (because it will also try to finish recharging the battery). This might reduce your potential reward even more. Also, if you return home during the reduction phase, don’t plug in your car before the challenge has ended, otherwise it will start recharging at the highest mode.