Tesla drivers left stranded due to freezing temperatures causing charging stations to malfunction

Featured Image credit with special thanks: CBS News

As temperatures continue to drop to record lows in Chicago, many people are finding it difficult to get out of their homes. 

Even those who have been able to venture out in their vehicles are having trouble, especially Tesla drivers. 

Local news channels have reported that electric vehicle drivers have been stranded in dangerously cold temperatures due to the lack of working charging ports and the length of time it takes to charge up their vehicles. 

"Our battery is so cold that it's taking 45 minutes to charge up, and the one charger we have is taking two hours," said Brandon Welbourne, a Tesla owner.

"I've seen at least ten cars being towed away because the cars died, they ran out of battery, it's too cold and it's taking too much energy to try and keep the car at a reasonable temperature, and they're all being towed away, and we don't have anywhere to charge up."

Drivers have been queuing outside of Tesla charging stations for hours in cold weather, with cars out of power for hours. 

Featured Image credit with special thanks: CBS News

"There's a line of cars outside of the highway, about 20 cars, and every single one of them is a Tesla, and we've been waiting for more than an hour, and these cars are just sitting there dead in the spot," Ahmed said. 

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Many individuals were unaware of the extended waiting period and experienced a power outage while standing in line.

According to Tesla's website, the cars use more energy during cold weather to heat up the battery and inside the car. To help reduce the effects of cold temperatures, Tesla recommends not allowing power below 20 percent.

If your battery is not running at full power and your ideal range is not being reached, you may see a "blue snowflake icon" on your touchscreen or in the app. This icon indicates that you may see a reduced regeneration of braking and acceleration.

To minimize the effects of cold weather, it's a good idea to keep your vehicle plugged in whenever you can and make sure the charge level stays above 20 percent when it's not plugged in.

It is not only Tesla vehicles that are experiencing troubles. In freezing conditions, lithium-ion batteries can be harmed, lose their ability to charge, and lose their power supplies more quickly.

So, if your electronics have been acting up during a cold snap, this could be the reason.

This Story Originally Published By CBS News.