I live in Central Texas, where daytime temperatures can hit 100F or more (38C) for weeks during the summer, and I will commonly need to leave my car sitting in an unshaded parking lot for most of my work day. So I have a few questions about how the I-Pace will operate in that heat.
Firstly, I'm concerned about the degree of tinting and heat rejection of the glass roof (the only roof option on U.S. models). From online photos and videos, it looks about as dark as a Tesla Model S roof, but maybe not as dark as a Tesla Model 3. I've driven the Model 3, and I think its dark roof does reduce glare acceptably in the Texas sun, and it's acceptable heat-wise too. Tesla do offer a pop-in fabric sunshade for the front roof panel too, which darkens and insulates even more. However, on the I-Pace side, there looks like a (probably?) lighter roof, with (probably?) less chance of any additional pop-in sunshade, because of the size of the single glass panel. So I'm a bit worried about that.
Secondly, does anyone have any information about whether the I-Pace will actively cool its battery while parked? Teslas can do this automatically, activating the compressor to send coolant through the battery when parked, at the expense of a mile or so range lost per hour due to battery draw. Over time, this should help to prevent battery degradation in hot climates such as mine. So, does the I-Pace also do this? I have heard some mention of thermal management while driving, but not while parked, so I am wondering.
Thirdly, does the I-Pace have any method of keeping cabin temperatures from getting too high while parked? Teslas do this with their Cabin Overheat Protection feature - now standard on Model S, and either standard or being rolled out on Model 3 (not sure). The primary value of this feature is safety, to reduce deaths of children and pets accidentally left in the car. But there must also be value in not subjecting interior materials and electronics to overly extreme temperatures. I have not heard any mention of the I-Pace having anything like this. Does anyone know any different?
My guess is that, of these three features, Jaguar most likely are implementing active battery cooling while parked, but that I'll be out of luck on the other two (glass roof likely to be a bit glary/hot in Texas sun, and no equivalent to Cabin Overheat Protection), but I'd love to be wrong! :wink2:
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