This article was written by Muhammad Hamza Hanif, a marketing researcher at ShamsPlug.
You may have heard that heat negatively impacts the range and health of an electric vehicle's (EV) battery, but how true is that? This article discusses the real-world results of heat as tested by our team at Shamsplug in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), to uncover how heat impacts EVs.
The Effect of Heat on Electric Vehicle Batteries
As we know, EVs rely on lithium-ion battery packs, and the optimal temperature for these batteries is 15 to 35 degrees Celsius. Once overheating is reached, battery quality lapses, resulting in increased discharge times and a lower range per charge.
A study by Recurrent Auto detected a 15% loss in range over 36 degrees Celsius; however, this was primarily due to the heavy use of the vehicle's AC systems, which reduced range. Unlike a combustion engine, EVs directly use the battery to power the AC system rather than a belt-driven compressor.
The Positive Impact of Heat on EV Batteries
This is something that is rarely discussed on the internet, and for good reason. Anything to delay the adoption of EV vehicles, right? Tesla vehicles are rated for comfortable use up to 60 degrees Celsius. Believe it or not, EVs love the hot weather as every battery creates some heat when it generates energy. Faster heating means a shorter time for the battery to reach peak performance.
Now, I will take you to the next step in education: GCC specs. You may ask yourself what a GCC-spec car is. Essentially, these are vehicles sold in warmer climates and usually come with a larger radiator to allow a larger amount of coolant to flow around the vehicle. They also have upgraded air filters to protect components from the elements and upgraded AC units, which use more power due to their higher efficiency.
Real-world Testing by ShamsPlug
Shamsplug is the leading supplier of EV charging solutions in the UAE, so we are very well-versed in EVs. Our study used one Tesla Model X in Dubai, UAE (Test subject A) and one Model X in Berlin, Germany (Test subject B). The study primarily used motorway mileage to track the range at a full charge.
Subject A got 436 km to a full charge, whereas subject B got just shy of 500 km to a full charge. Both subjects used built-in cruise control systems and tried to maintain a constant speed of 70 km per hour where possible. We can attribute most range loss on subject A to AC compression. As manufacturer guidelines state, EVs can lose up to 8 km of range per hour using AC systems in a car.
Impact of Heat on EV Battery Life
Let’s now examine the effects of heat on the vehicle's battery lifespan. Whether we like it or not, an EV vehicle's battery will degrade over time regardless of weather conditions (usually around 20 years), which is much longer than the eight years for early EV vehicles.
To understand battery life, you must first examine what degrades EV battery life. The primary culprit is the use of fast charging solutions in public spaces or individuals simply not letting the battery run down and instead obsessing over keeping the battery above 90% always. Both of these can severely impact the health of an EV’s battery. The heat will do minimal damage to the battery's health if you follow precautions such as parking the vehicle in the shade and avoiding using fast charge solutions in warmer climates.
At Shamsplug, we found the main reason for battery depletion: individuals do not have a charger at home or work and instead rely on public fast charging solutions to maintain the battery's charge. As stated widely, fast charger solutions should not be used frequently to preserve battery health.
What do we advise?
In warmer climates around the summer months, simply charge your battery to the mid-range (50 - 70%).
This will result in:
More frequent charging results in a more optimal range of charge, reducing the stress on the battery from deep discharge.
Mid-range charging also ensures slower degradation to the battery's components as less stress is placed on the system.
Also, shading and tinting can help prolong the life of an EV battery in warmer climates.
The Effects of Cold Weather on an EV Battery
The study would be well balanced without us looking at the effects of range from cold weather climates. It is well known that cold weather affects EV battery health. In fact, a study by PBS titled “Cold weather can cut electric vehicle range” found that the negative effects can be as severe as 37% of the range when it is very cold outside.
This is because heat is a direct output of energy. The longer it takes to heat a battery up, the more energy is used to generate that heat. The study found that, like in the Persian Gulf, where we buy GCC vehicles, customers in colder climates will have options to purchase vehicles with improved battery insulation in the coming years.
The Impact of Extreme Weather on EV Tires
Summertime heat significantly impacts EV regenerative braking because air expands when it is warm inside the tire. At Shamsplug, we found a 10-degree Celcius increase in temperature can lead to a three-pound per square inch increase in tire pressure.
The best way to alleviate this is to simply ensure you do not over-inflate your vehicle's tires during the summer months, as the heat will cause the tire to expand. Tire over-inflation can also compromise vehicle handling and negatively affect any regenerative braking systems, further decreasing EV range.
Mitigating the Impacts of Heat on Electric Vehicles
We found numerous ways to alleviate the negative symptoms that warm climates can bring to EVs. For example, pre-cooling the vehicle and connecting it to the grid helps to preserve EV battery life. Parking in the shade is good for the battery and also an effective practice to prolong the life of rubber components on any vehicle.
Moderating acceleration and speed when driving can also further prolong the health of an EV, and keeping the EV battery charge under 80% results in less voltage-related stress to the battery system.
Taking the above steps can ensure the longevity of your EV, ensuring many years of use. All I can say is EVs are here to stay. The battery responds differently if the weather is cold or hot, much like a combustion engine altering MPG. From climate to climate, EVs also have similar constraints. As technology advances, especially heat-sinking technology, we will see wider adoption of EV vehicles.
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