Electric vehicles have significantly gained momentum in the last few years. With the need for cleaner alternatives to traditional internal combustion engines, EVs have emerged as a beacon of sustainability. However, these electric vehicles are not immune to extreme weather conditions.
While the technologies have advanced, driving your EV in cold weather or high temperatures can cause a loss of performance and efficiency in battery and charging. So, how to combat this issue?
In this article, we will explore how extreme weather conditions can affect the performance and efficiency of EV batteries and chargers and provide tips to mitigate these effects.
Extreme Weather conditions like hot or cold weather can affect your electric vehicle’s range and charging. That’s because batteries used in EVs are sensitive to temperature fluctuations, and temperature changes like extreme cold or hot weather can affect their efficiency.
Although the effect of cold weather on electric cars is temporary, and your EV performance will rebound when the temperature returns to normal (between 20°C to 45°C), chemical reactions in batteries occur faster at high temperatures. It can shorten your EV battery lifespan, requiring frequent replacement of batteries.
However, most EVs now come with a built-in heating and cooling system that helps to deal with temperature fluctuations. For instance, if you own a Tesla, you most likely not notice temperature effects on the dashboard range.
Electric vehicles use lithium-ion batteries because of their longevity and high energy density. These batteries have a cathode, an anode, and a liquid catalyst that enable charged atoms to flow. But when the extreme cold arrives, this liquid catalyst inside EV batteries thickens. It slows down the chemical reaction and releases less energy, affecting the performance of the Electric Vehicles in cold weather.
Moreover, cold weather also requires you to run cabin heaters. While the gas-powered uses the waste heat released when the engine runs, EVs use the same batteries to heat the car interiors as used for propelling the vehicle. It quickly depletes the EV batteries in winter, affecting its range. This loss can be around 30% or more, eventually affecting EV’s efficiency and performance.
Similar to the effect of cold weather on EV range, hot weather also affects your EV battery. With the temperature rise, the chemical reactions within the battery also accelerate. It includes both the one that generates power and the unwanted reactions that cause degradation in the battery.
Therefore, when you charge your EV at a high temperature, it increases the operating temperature of the battery over the optimal range, speeds up the aging process, and shortens the battery lifespan.
Moreover, the thermal management system and air conditioning during extreme heat consume battery power, negatively affecting its range and performance.
Extreme weather conditions can significantly affect your EV charging efficiency. When you plug in the EV, it generates heat during charging. So when the outside weather gets warm, it worsens the temperature rise and eventually causes thermal management issues.
Similarly, EV charging in cold weather takes longer than in warm or moderate temperatures. That’s because chemical reactions in battery cells slow down during low temperatures, taking more time for EV batteries to charge completely.
That’s why manufacturers now use thermal management systems in EVs that help you maintain optimal temperatures during fluctuations in weather conditions.
Although most EV comes with thermal management systems that enable you to maintain optimal temperature with your vehicle, there are few ways to mitigate extreme weather conditions.
As electric vehicles are becoming a significant part of the automobile industry, it is crucial to understand the hot and cold weather impact on EV range. We hope all the points above will help you make informed decisions during extreme climate conditions.