Impact of weather on EV’s
EV technology continues to evolve, as surging sales and customer demand propel the industry to unprecedented heights. Despite a research and market report that the global EV markets will grow enormously, some detractors cite the impact of cold weather on charge duration as reason to forego considering the electric option.
The Science behind cold weather’s impact on EV
Temperature influences the performance of EV’s, with everything from operating range to handling capabilities impacted by the climes of the driver’s immediate surroundings. Temperatures below 20 degree Fahrenheit seem to have the largest impact on battery drain.
Similar to gas powered vehicles, EV’s experience this decrease efficiency due to changes in fluid viscosity. Colder temperatures slow the movement of electrolytic fluid in Lithium – ion EV batteries, which decreases power output and charge speeds. Once the battery warms up, both viscosity and efficiency increases accordingly.
Efforts to regulate temperatures inside the vehicle draw significant battery resources away from the primary operational functions of the EV, thus attributing to battery drain in tandem with the weather outside the cabin.
How big of an impact is it?
Depending on the environment a driver find themselves in, not much. It’s also worth noting that high temperatures have effect on battery life as well, with cabin- cooling settings contributing to excess drain in summer months and hotter climate.
When it comes to maximizing the range of an EV, the most important factor to consider is the temperature of the charging location.
Tips to prolong EV range
- Warm the battery before charging or operating an EV.Home charging in a warm garage increases range capacity.
- Driving slower will extend the battery duration of an EV.As opposed to fuel –powered vehicles,EV’s utilize little energy to idle and fare better in cities than on the highway.
- Warm the interior cabin of an EV to the desired temperature prior to unplugging.
These suggestions – as well as the consideration of daily driving habits and how that translates to range capacity- can ensure cold weather doesn’t hinder the decision to purchase an EV.