Electric vehicle sales have hit record highs in the U.S. over the past year , and this winter is the first time many drivers are using all-electric vehicles.

The battery performance of electric vehicles is closely related to weather factors. Too high or too low temperatures will have a significant impact on the charging rate.

When encountering cold weather, in order to maintain the comfort of the interior space of the electric vehicle, the battery must maintain a certain temperature.

This usually consumes more energy, and the impact is quite obvious. The driving range is reduced, and the number of charging times required during driving is relatively increased.

Electric vehicle batteries may not be able to accept a charge as normal in cold conditions before they have warmed up. The vast majority of lithium-ion batteries have the same problem, and several of them are particularly problematic.

Cold weather can rob an electric vehicle ‘s battery of range. In temperatures of 20 degrees Fahrenheit, electric vehicles often don’t travel as far as they can under ideal conditions (70 degrees Fahrenheit), in part because the heating system drains the battery.

Electric vehicles cannot use electricity, so it is difficult for electric vehicles to drive long distances in cold weather; however, with today’s urgent climate change issue, it is very important to significantly reduce the carbon emissions of transportation.

Some car manufacturers and drivers are worried that electric vehicles may have limitations in cold weather. Reduce the public’s acceptance of electric vehicles.

Tok Transportation boss Stretch Blackard said the cost of its electric buses doubled every time temperatures dropped to freezing.

According to him, when the temperature ranges from 0 to minus 10 degrees Fahrenheit, an electric bus costs about 1.15 yuan per mile, compared with only 40 cents per mile for a diesel bus. When the climate is warm, the cost of an electric bus drops to about 90 cents per mile. Split the money.

Many private electric vehicle owners also face challenges during the winter. There are always several cold snaps in the United States every winter, and the driving distance of electric vehicles may be reduced by 10% to 36%.

Mark Gendregske, an engineer at an auto parts manufacturer from Michigan, said the situation starts to get serious when the temperature drops to 10 to 20 degrees Fahrenheit.

“Usually there is a loss of more than 20% in driving range and charging time. I The mileage dropped from about 250 miles to about 200 miles.”

About three-quarters of lost EV range is due to keeping the cabin warm, but speed or highway driving are also factors, with some drivers using less heating to save energy in order to get their EVs farther. The gasoline engine of a fuel vehicle will also lose about 15% of its driving distance when the weather is cold.

Still, there is hope for electric vehicle reform. Scientists are rushing to improve new battery chemistries, hoping that the new batteries will not lose power in cold weather as quickly as current lithium-ion batteries; in addition, they will be equipped with high-efficiency heat pumps. ) cars can drive for a longer time in low temperature environments.

Nils Soedal of the Automobile Federation said this was “not a problem” as long as drivers planned well before setting off. “The real big issue is that there need to be enough charging stations on the road.”

A recent test by the Norwegian Automobile Association (NAF) found that there are indeed differences between different models. The electric car of SAIC Maxus Euniq6 is relatively low-cost, only 10% less than the 354 kilometers advertised, and the Tesla Model S has a shorter mileage than advertised. 16%.
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Electric vehicle charging company Electrify America provides five tips for charging electric vehicles in freezing weather:

Charging time may be longer:

Charging speed is controlled by the vehicle, not the charging pile. When the temperature drops, the charging function of the electric vehicle software decreases.

Temperature affects driving range of Electric Vehicle:

Drivers should check the temperature changes after nightfall, because the driving range of electric vehicles will be reduced at low temperatures. Some electric vehicles can estimate the driving range under extreme temperatures and display it on the display interface.

Plan in advance how to charge:

It is best to find a public charging station before setting off to avoid having to find a charging location within a short distance.

Park your car indoors as much as possible:

When encountering extremely cold temperatures, it is best to park your car indoors. The indoor temperature is warmer, which prevents electric vehicles from slowing down in charging in cold temperatures and allows the charged power to be stored for a longer period of time.

Use cold weather features:

Some electric vehicles have preset functions that allow the driver to set or operate them themselves to warm the battery to a more ideal temperature.

In addition, the American Automobile Association (AAA) provides four tips for driving electric vehicles in winter:

1. You can charge the battery and let the car warm up before setting off, without consuming the power of the battery itself.

2. Most electric vehicles are quite heavy. When the road surface is slippery, do not drive too hard when accelerating. If the car has an ECO function, it should be turned on. The car may also have a winter/snow driving mode.

3. If the road surface is slippery, it is best to turn off the “regenerative braking system”.

4. Please note that the driving range may change.