Sport Mode

Puppethead said:
Keeping the batteries cool is probably most important, but I'd think they're too far back plus enclosed for air shutters in the front to make a difference.
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When I charge the car, a fan comes on for a few seconds every couple of minutes, presumably to cool the battery (or some other component?). The fan is somewhere under the hood, and if I put my hand against one of the openings on the front, I can feel a bit of air. So, if that fan is to cool the battery, it seems air coming in while driving would also cool the batteries.
 
Newkirk said:
When I charge the car, a fan comes on for a few seconds every couple of minutes, presumably to cool the battery (or some other component?).
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I believe that's for removing heat from the battery coolant, but I'm speculating. Charging does put a lot of electricity into the batteries, which will cause them to heat up. The batteries do overheat on the track, so I don't see how grille shutters would be working to cool the batteries.
 
A lot of different points here:

Puppethead said:
I'm not sure how cooling applies to the SE. Compared to ICE everything is already significantly cooler (no internal explosions or radiator).
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Sure, ICE vehicles generate a lot more heat but EVs still need to be cooled (motor, inverter, and batteries are almost always liquid cooled). The challenge with EV cooling is that the batteries and electronics have a much smaller acceptable temperature range closer to typical ambient temperatures. EVs do have coolant and radiators. The SE has quite a large one behind the AC condenser, and the coolant reservoir is clearly visible on the right side under the hood.

Puppethead said:
Plus the 2022 LCI has the air curtain slits, that should provide some air flow.
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These air curtains are just for aerodynamics. They create smooth flow around the wheels reducing turbulence (like an invisible version of the rear fender skirt on the Honda insight). The only EV I know of with an air cooled battery is the Nissan Leaf and that hasn't been working out too well for them...

Puppethead said:
Maybe the shutters are an ICE holdover, like the scoop back when it used to actually be functional?
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Definitely not a hold over, active grille shutters are also found on Teslas, the Mach-E, and other dedicated EVs.

Puppethead said:
I don't see how grille shutters would be working to cool the batteries.
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The point of the active grille shutters is to reduce the open area in the front face of the car. The ideal aerodynamic shape is a completely closed off front bumper with no openings but openings are required for cooling and AC and the front bumper is the best spot (high pressure zone). The air that flows into these openings and through the radiator has to go somewhere and is typically dumped out into the wheel wells and under the car, disrupting the existing smooth airflow. By closing off the lower opening when more cooling airflow is not necessary, aerodynamics can be improved by reducing the disruption. When more cooling is required, they can be opened to increase airflow.
 
Wow - okay - I had no trouble mounting my GoPro on the bumper and getting footage of the active grill shutters. And thank goodness I did. I looked at my footage - the shutters close as soon as the car is started, and open when the switch is turned off. But, as I got up toward 60 mph, I could see the entire shutter assembly being pushed backward toward the radiator by the air. When I got home, I pushed on the right hand part of the assembly - it was solid. I pushed on the left hand side, and it is completely detached from the bumper assembly. I believe I have found my first warranty repair. EDIT: Now that I thought about it some more - this was probably damage from something striking the car, possibly. I bet I’ll have to pay for it.

I’ll post the video in a bit. I think the weather was not warm enough (71F) for the shutters to open while driving, so I was not able to verify that.
 
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