Warm Weather Can Affect EV’s But It’s Not All Doom and Gloom!
Battery
EV’s feature lithium-ion batteries which don’t tend to respond positively to extreme temperatures, working most effectively at 20-25°C.
An overheated battery can cause issues with charging, as the charging speed can decrease or halt altogether for safety. However, if the battery has not overheated, warmer weather actually results in speedier charging times than in lower temperatures.
Most modern EV’s can manage better with high temperatures if they are built with an effective cooling system, such as Tesla, Hyundai and Kia.
Air Conditioning
Turning the aircon on in your EV reduces its range by 17%. So, if you were planning a 100-mile trip, you’d only be able to travel 83 miles during a heatwave. Although, turning the aircon on in diesel and petrol vehicles can increase fuel consumption by up to 10%, so the EV is still more cost effective in hot weather.
Tyres
Higher temperatures can affect your EV’s tyre pressure, as EV’s are heavier than petrol and diesel vehicles. However, tyres in a modern EV car will wear down a lot slower than that of a car with an internal consumption engine, due to its good traction. Just make sure to check your tyres every month and before undertaking long journeys.
Maintaining Your EV During a Heatwave
Park your EV in the shade
The lithium-ion battery in your EV can lose charge if left out in the sun for too long. Find a shaded spot to park your vehicle, wherever possible.
Only charge your EV to 80%
If you want to prolong the battery life of your EV, do not fully charge it, but cap it at 80% instead (which means a saving on your electricity bill – hurrah!).
When a car battery is fully charged, it can overheat, resulting in cell degradation, a condition which occurs when lithium battery cells lose the capacity to charge at their original rate.
Plan charging stops on long journeys
If you are undertaking a longer journey, plan your charging stations accordingly.
It’s always best to find a sheltered charging station or an underground station to keep your EV cool whilst charging.
Alternatively, use domestic charging stations and workplace charging points where you can position your charger in a sheltered area.
Use preconditioning
New EV’s are built with preconditioning. With this setting, you can pre-cool your car before a long journey to avoid draining your battery by having your aircon on full blast whilst driving.
Use eco-mode
Eco-mode can increase your EV’s efficiency, reducing the amount of power supplied to your electronic systems for functions such as acceleration.
EV’s use more energy in the heat and this setting can help to prolong your car’s range.
Avoid driving between 12pm-3pm
During summer, the hottest part of the day is between 12pm and 3pm. Avoid driving during this time to prevent battery damage.