Temperatures are set to rise again this weekend in France, but how do electric cars cope with the intense heat? As with combustion cars, it is true that some precautions must be taken.
Before hitting the road
First interesting point, before getting on board you can already “prepare” the passenger compartment. In fact, many modern electric cars are connected and, via a mobile app, there is the possibility of turning on the air conditioning with the desired temperature on board. Just keep in mind that this will result in energy consumption and therefore in some battery life. Therefore, there is no problem if you start the operation with the vehicle plugged in, but avoid it in a car with a low charge level, if you do not plan to stop quickly at a terminal.
Otherwise, as with a heated car, it is recommended to drive for a while with the windows open before turning on the air conditioning. This will start to ventilate the cabin a little. It is not useless after leaving the car in direct sunlight, with a temperature that can reach 80°C on board, or even almost 100°C on certain surfaces.
Parking in the shade will reduce the heating of the cabin. When stopping at a charging station, you can also leave the air conditioning on to avoid excessive consumption when you return to cool the interior.
On the road, reduced autonomy?
Lithium batteries have an ideal operating temperature range of between 20 and 25°C. However, the loss of autonomy will be less significant than in winter, where heating the battery consumes more energy than cooling it.
It also depends on the temperature regulation system of the battery and engine: with air it will be less efficient than models equipped with liquid cooling, found in particular in Tesla, Hyundai, Kia, Audi and Porsche.
In general, it is estimated that an electric car will operate normally, without too much impact on its range and performance, when subjected to external temperatures between 0 and 45°C. In other words, the vehicle will be able to return the battery to its optimal operating temperature without too much difficulty.
“Beyond 45°C and beyond 70°C, the battery degrades, affecting the range of the electric car. The electronic components of the battery lose efficiency under the effect of high temperatures,” underlines a page of advice from EDF’s Izi.
Air conditioning: the right reflexes
The air conditioning system will also affect this autonomy. All electric cars are equipped with a heat pump to generate cold, explains an article by Frandroid. It is for heating that the heat pump is sometimes offered as an option, although it also tends to become more widespread, with an electric resistance as an alternative, which considerably increases consumption.
In extreme heat, it is necessary to optimize the use of air conditioning:
“It goes without saying that air conditioning geared towards on-board driving allows you to benefit directly from fresh air. However, there is no point in setting the air vents to maximum. Remember to also activate air recycling,” EDF recommends.
Obviously, using the air conditioning consumes energy. This can vary greatly from one vehicle to another, but the loss of autonomy is estimated at between 5 and 15 kilometres for every 100 kilometres travelled. This is not negligible and therefore it can be recommended, at the same time, to reduce the speed, from 130 to 120 km/h for example on the motorway, since this “driving” part is the main consumption of the vehicle. And of course, adopt a more flexible driving style, avoiding strong accelerations.
Using an eco mode can be an advantage, but in certain models the reduction in air conditioning performance will end up being counterproductive: what’s the point of gaining a little autonomy with this mode if it forces you to endure a very hot interior?
Charging: Be careful of overheating
Before a long trip in an electric car, it is best to plan ahead for charging stops. This will be even more advisable during periods of extreme heat, when charging times may be longer and there is a greater risk of a broken terminal.
“Beyond 45°C, in many self-service terminals, the electronic management system can activate a safety measure to prevent overheating, so that recharging is temporarily reduced or stopped altogether,” notes EDF.
In this context, “consider preferring covered charging stations when it is very hot,” advises Engie, which will also allow parking in the shade.
As is often the case, beware of “good advice” that can turn out to be dangerous. Recently, Numerama reported that some Tesla owners have the habit of placing a damp cloth over the charging port connected to the vehicle, which can “speed up charging”. But it is above all dangerous and has also pushed the American brand to react, explaining on X (formerly Twitter) that this distorts the temperature measurement of the sensors, designed precisely to prevent any overheating.
Source: BFM TV
