How to properly use and charge an electric car in very hot weather ?

© Michael Fousert/Unsplash

Summer is always welcome for its beautiful, long days, but the season is always greeted with a little more concern for any electric car owner. Indeed, high heat can have a significant impact on the vehicle battery. It is therefore important to take into account a few important factors during this season, in order to get the most out of your car during this complicated period. But above all, what are the direct consequences of heat on the operation of an electric car ?

What are the consequences of heat on an electric car battery ?

Heat can have three different types of consequences on a car battery electric. First, potential overheating. It makes sense, after all: a lithium-ion battery reacts poorly to extreme temperatures, whether cold or hot. A battery like this works best at 20 to 25 degrees, actually. Thus, carrying out long journeys in summer, at 35-40 degrees, can in the short term generate risks of battery overheating.

Next, high heat can have a direct impact on charging power and battery life. In fact, the closer the battery gets to overheating, the more the charging speed reduces. The storage battery monitoring system (BMS) effectively adapts the charging power received according to the battery temperature. In other words, to avoid overheating, the power distributed in the battery is reduced, and the recharge time increases. It even happens that charging is interrupted while the battery cools down.

© Martin Katler/Unsplash

Finally, the heat will also impact the electrical components of the charging stations. Thus, the charging infrastructure functions correctly up to 50 degrees. If outside temperatures reach 40 or even 45 degrees, some terminals may trigger a safety measure to prevent overheating, and charging is then reduced or interrupted. This situation can happen often, especially since public infrastructures are generally poorly protected from the sun.

To summarize, heat can have a significant impact on recharging, and on the autonomy of an electric car battery. Lithium-ion batteries begin to degrade above 50 degrees, and do not tolerate temperatures above 70 degrees. In other words, it is necessary to take some precautions in summer when you decide to take a long trip with an electric vehicle.

How to avoid overheating the battery&amp ;nbsp;?

All vehicles are not necessarily equal when it comes to the risk of overheating. Indeed, certain cars (Tesla, Kia, Hyundai for example) benefit from a more efficient cooling system (via a liquid circuit). This helps reduce the impact of heat on battery life and prevents potential overheating. Be careful, however, as some models offer a much less efficient ventilation system. If this is the case, you will need to plan your journeys appropriately. But how ? Discover all our tips below.

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Our advice for minimizing the effect of heat on your electric car

You will have understood: faced with high heat, it is necessary to take various precautions to avoid overheating or loss of autonomy of an electric car. Here are some practical tips to take into account when traveling or charging your vehicle in hot weather.

Choose your charging times carefully

Here's what seems obvious: it's cooler at night. And since it is cooler at night, it is recommended to recharge your vehicle at this time. Be careful though, charging your electric car overnight via a domestic power outlet can also lead to overheating. It is therefore advisable to use a public terminal or a reinforced socket instead to improve charging efficiency.

© Unsplash/Markus Spiske < p>Also, if you do not want to charge your model overnight, you can do so early in the morning, when the temperatures are a little milder than in the middle of the day.

Condition your vehicle as best as possible before driving

The best thing to do, to start a journey in the best possible conditions, is to pre-air condition the interior of your vehicle while it is plugged in and being recharged. Thus, the air conditioning draws energy from the charging station and not directly from the battery. This should give you a few kilometers of additional range, and what's more, you can take the road peacefully, without having to start the journey in the heat.

Prioritize terminals sheltered from the sun

Another measure that is obvious in idea, but not so easy to implement. If a terminal available is in the shade, choose it. Charging stations are also sensitive to heat, and it may happen that they reduce their charging flow (they can even interrupt it in the event of too much heat). Note, however, that on a motorway rest area, terminals in the shade will be particularly rare.

© Dacia

It is therefore recommended to favor terminals located in underground parking or in a shopping center parking lotFor example. Sheltered, your car will recharge faster and be able to cool down peacefully. If you plan to install a wall outlet in your home, take the position of the sun into account for this same reason.

Adopt a flexible approach

This is the last piece of advice, which it is also good to follow even if it is not too hot: consider driving smooth rather than sporty driving. This type of driving is beneficial whatever the circumstances, but in case of high heat, it will allow you to gain a little more autonomy on your battery.

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