> If there is one thing that will use up large amounts of energy it is electric heating, I find it hard to believe that using a heater as a consumer would regenerate the battery capacity in excess of what the the heater is consuming unless most or all of the energy was directed at the batteries.
If temperatures are low and if the charging station can deliver more power than the batteries need to charge up, then using the heater may warm up the battery pack and allow it to charge more efficiently, then discharge more efficiently after leaving the station.
When batteries are cold, they neither charge nor discharge efficiently. Batteries benefit from higher temperatures (but not too high, as the recent Boeing Dreamliner battery story reveals).
If temperatures are low and if the charging station can deliver more power than the batteries need to charge up, then using the heater may warm up the battery pack and allow it to charge more efficiently, then discharge more efficiently after leaving the station.
When batteries are cold, they neither charge nor discharge efficiently. Batteries benefit from higher temperatures (but not too high, as the recent Boeing Dreamliner battery story reveals).