In the present times, when petrol and diesel prices are skyrocketing and environmental pollution remains a serious concern, electric cars (EVs) have made their place among the people. Using EV cars is not only economical but also environmentally friendly. However, their battery life and range can be affected in the summer season, which worries consumers.
Those who asking for does extremely hot weather (around 50°C temperature) affect the range of an EV car? Here we have done an analysis, which will help you to understand, how much range will be affected in the summer season during the month of April, May, and June.
Effect of heat on battery performance
The short answer for this is Yes, during the summer season, the range of electric vehicles reduces and you can cover fewer kilometres on a single charge.
The battery of electric cars is affected by extreme heat. When the temperature goes around 50 degrees Celsius, the capacity of the lithium-ion battery decreases. This means that the range of the vehicle decreases and the battery discharges quickly. This happens because the battery consumes more energy in hot temperatures.
This has been also published in a new study from Recurrent Auto, which analyzed battery readings from 7,500 electric vehicles. The study found that the batteries of electric vehicles can lose 20-45% of their advertised range in sweltering or very hot weather as shown in below table.
| Temperature | Range Change |
|---|---|
| 75F (24°C) | 0.0% Range Loss |
| 80F (27°C) | 2.8% Range Loss |
| 85F (29°C) | 3.5% Range Loss |
| 90F (32°C) | 5% Range Loss |
| 95F (35°C) | 15% Range Loss |
| 100F (38°C) | 31% Range Loss |
| 107F (42°C) | 35% Range Loss |
| 113F (45°C) | 38% Range Loss |
| 116F (47°C) | 41% Range Loss |
| 122F (50°C) | 45% Range Loss |
So if you are travelling to South India – Mumbai, Pune, Bhopal, Chennai, Hyderabad, Guntur, Warangal, Tiruchirappalli where day temperature is around 38 to 42 degree celsius, your electric car will give 31% to 35% less range than the range mentioned in the car brochure.
If you are in North India – Delhi, Chandigarh, Noida, Gurugram, Lucknow, Jaipur, Amritsar, the temperature here goes up to 49-50 degrees during summers, and in this case the EV car will give 41% to 45% less range. So you can see a drastic drop in EV car range during hot days!
Effect of air conditioning
The use of air conditioning becomes mandatory in the summer season. However, the use of AC consumes a lot of battery energy. This reduces the range of the vehicle even more.
According to a study, keeping the AC on during summer can reduce the range of the vehicle by about 17%. And if you are traveling with family, the percentage can reach up to 25% as the AC will work at full capacity to keep the cabin area cool and it will consume more battery.
Other factors
Apart from heat and the use of AC during summers, many other factors can also affect the range of EVs. Such as, driving style, vehicle weight, tire pressure, and battery age. Therefore, it is important to pay attention to all these factors to maintain the battery range better.
Battery protection measures
Experts suggest that, the range of electric car can be maintained if you follow some measures. These measures can be taken to protect the battery during summer and the measures are:
- Efficient cooling systems can be installed to keep the battery pack cool.
- Parking the vehicle in cool places (under shadow, under roof) can also help in increasing the battery life.
- Avoid traveling between 12 PM to 4 PM.
- Do not drive continuously for a long time, take a break after driving 60 or 80 km.
- Only turn on the necessary equipment, and keep others disabled.
Final Words
Summer season affects the range of electric cars. However, some measures can be taken to deal with this problem. Consumers should maintain their vehicle properly during summer and limit the use of AC. Also, manufacturers should also work on heat-resistant battery technologies to improve the range of EVs.
Apart from that, keep getting the car checked by the mechanic from time to time and avoid any illegal modifications as this may cause short-circuits and burn out the internal components.
Want to know more? Keep checking https://evcitycars.in for more updates and don’t forget to share it with others!
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