JOHN THYS / Getty
- Tesla drivers in Chicago are battling freezing temperatures.
- Fox 32 reported that EV drivers faced long lines at charging stations throughout the city.
- One Tesla owner told Fox she was forced to abandon her car after it failed to charge.
Tesla drivers in Chicago are struggling to charge their cars amid brutal temperatures.
On Monday, dozens of Tesla owners were seen desperately trying to power up their cars at a Tesla supercharging station in Oak Brook, Illinois, Fox 32 reported. One driver, Tyler Beard, told the outlet he'd been trying to charge the EV since Sunday afternoon.
He said his Tesla was "still on zero percent" despite spending more than six hours at the supercharger.
The Chicago area was hit with some of its coldest weather in five years over the weekend, with wind chills dropping to minus 32 degrees on Sunday, according to the National Weather Service. Fox reported that EV drivers faced long lines at charging stations across the city.
Some drivers simply gave up and abandoned their freezing EVs. One Tesla owner, Chalis Mizelle, told Fox she was forced to leave her car and get a lift from a friend after it failed to charge.
EVs are known to struggle in cold weather, with car batteries draining much faster and significantly affecting vehicle performance.
Tesla owners have complained about facing issues in freezing temperatures before. Several have shared videos that appear to show car doors frozen shut.
In 2022, one Tesla owner told Business Insider his car wouldn't charge in freezing temperatures, leaving him stranded on Christmas Eve. After trying to charge the car for 15 hours, Domenick Nati said he was forced to cancel his Christmas plans altogether.
Last week Hertz said it was selling tens of thousands of Teslas — about a third of its total — partly due to the cost of repairs.
Representatives for Tesla did not immediately respond to a request for comment from BI, made outside normal working hours.