Jumping in Sub-Zero with the Hybrid Tahoe

I suppose an excellent question would be: how did the Tahoe handle the -20+ F weather in Chicago over the last week? What would happen if you needed to give someone a jump?

The answer is quite simple: it didn't even notice it.

The truck started just fine as I had some running around to do. I was concerned as the truck draws upon the 300 volt battery and one of the two electric motors to start it. There was no difference between warmer and the colder weather. In fact, I basically had a 67 kW starter so the engine began without so much as a cough (I now have about 15,000 miles on the truck combined city and highway).

Can a hybrid Tahoe jump another vehicle? The answer came quite clear when I was called on the coldest day to help out a friend. There is a 12 volt system and battery in the Tahoe and the instructions are a bit different, but yes you can. The manuals provide a number of warnings, however, that relate to the electronic systems in the truck. You must have them all turned off as a spark caused by the jump could damage the systems (ie: the radio) and those are not covered by warranty if damaged by this process. So, there are tabs that make it obvious if the truck is used this way.

I wondered - is this unique to hybrids? Nope. I looked up jump instructions for a number of modern vehicles. Other than a few confirmation steps for the Tahoe, the instructions were virtually identical with all of the electronics in modern vehicles.

As it turns out, the distressed vehicle was pretty much frozen and even a new battery did not start it immediately. Afterwords I realized that I could have plugged a portable heater into the 120V outlet in the back of the truck to warm up the engine and battery of the other vehicle which may have helped in all ways.

My plan is now to purchase one of those portable jump kits for about $20 and keep it in the truck as one of the things I noticed in this little episode really bothered me. Even though the car was in a heavily trafficed area, and the owner is a woman who asked for help (no jumper cables), not one person provided assistance in the dangerously cold weather (and a lot of people were asked before I was called). Virtually none of the towing services provided support and the few that did were a minimum of $75. Now I appreciate my AAA insurance!

Have we slid that far as a society that we cannot provide assistance for those in genuine need?