What is the best preconditioning timing for electric vehicle fast charging?

[SofiaZR]

I just got my first EV and I'm trying to figure out the best way to handle battery preconditioning before a fast charge. The manual says one thing, but other owners online suggest different timing, like starting it just as you navigate to the charger versus twenty minutes out. I’m not sure which method actually balances battery health with saving time on a trip.

[ScottNL]

I usually start preconditioning about 5 minutes before I pull into the charger. It seems to nudge the pack temp up and the charger can ramp a bit sooner, which saves a chunk of time on the fast-charge stop.

[LukeKJ]

The manual says one thing and a bunch of forum posts say something different. I tried both timing it to start as I head toward the charger and waiting until I’m almost there, and I didn’t see a clear, repeatable difference in the charging speed.

[Nathan42]

Is it heat or voltage that actually matters, or am I chasing the wrong thing? Maybe the real limiter is the charger ramp rate or the route you take.

[Robert.W]

On a recent trip I logged two legs: early preconditioning saved me a few minutes once, but on the next leg the benefit was negligible and I ended up turning the heater off sooner to stretch range.