Do electric vehicles get over heated? How to take care of it?
Hello people. This article discusses about the topic Do electric vehicles get over heated? How to take care of it?
Yes electric vehicles do overheat. However it’s usually not as extreme as regular ICE vehicles. There are ways to control the problem if it does happen.
Most electric vehicles come with a small cooling system that works to keep the motor cool. The cooling system ensures heavy acceleration generates only a small amount of heat, hence it does not get problematic. However, not all EVs contain a cooling system and not all cooling systems are effective.
How hot a vehicle can get depends on a variety of factors including your driving pattern, the materials used in the production, and the age of the vehicle.
Are you looking to start your business in the electric vehicle industry? We provide software development, web application development, mobile application development, charging stations management app, electric vehicle fleet management software development, cyber security and all software services. Please check our home page here https://iwheels.co/
Ok. Let's get back to the article.
Older and poorly managed vehicles tend to overheat rather quickly. There are a number of moving components that result in a flow of energy that also produces heat.
If this heat is not properly dissipated then it would result in the vehicle getting hot. Also, we must mention that it is natural and okay for a car to get hot. You can’t have a ‘cool’ car all the time. When your electric car gets hot, it is not always the battery giving off heat, it could be the internals.
What causes overheating of electric vehicles?
It is important to know what causes a vehicle to overheat. Here are some of the causes.
Geographical Location
This may sound strange to some but outside temperature can cause the battery to heat up especially if there is poor insulation. A report by some Volt enthusiasts concluded:
“Since outside air temperature was hotter than battery coolant temperature this actually resulted in heating the battery.”
This is why battery heating is common in regions that are very hot. Since you cannot control the surrounding temperature, you must take steps to improving cooling and reduce exposure to hot temperatures.
Charging Pattern
If you charge the vehicle four to five times a day then it will end up being too hot. Where you charge the car also has an impact on battery performance.
Most manufacturers recommend charging your electric vehicle indoors to prevent the car from being exposed to outside temperatures, especially if it’s too hot.
Driving Habits
If you drive your electric vehicle constantly for hours at a fast speed, your car will begin to heat up. It is important to give your car a break after every 100 miles or so.
Battery System
Different manufacturers use different cooling systems but not all of them are effective. A poor system will cause overheating problems, hence this factor is of huge importance.
How to Prevent your electric vehicle from overheating?
Here are a few steps you can take to prevent overheating.
Upgrade the Cooling System
If your car does have a cooling system or if the cooling system is not effective then consider upgrading it. There are a variety of cooling systems including fan cooling, air cooling, phase change material, and liquid cooling.
The first three options are not suitable for electric vehicles, hence consider liquid cooling. A reliable cooling system can be expensive but it’s worth the money since it can play an important role in making your car safer and more durable.
Batteries with no thermal management systems tend to have poor life spans due to increased thermal pressure.
Avoid fast charging when it’s hot outside
Combined with the high temperatures caused by the weather, your EV battery may be unnecessarily overheating if you opt for fast charging. Slow charging is the way to go instead in hot weathers.
Use the preconditioning feature
Almost every EV comes the preconditioning button. Preconditioning helps you plan ahead for any extreme weather conditions so your EV will run at the optimal temperature when you’re ready to get on the road.
Preconditioning works by adjusting the inside of an EV’s temperature to optimal levels. All you have to do is input the weather forecast into your vehicle’s mobile app and it will change its internal temperature accordingly.
If the weather is expected to be freezing cold, preconditioning will warm up the EV’s interior so that when you enter the vehicle you’ll be ready to start driving. The opposite goes for hot weather i.e., EVs will lower the temperature inside the vehicle to keep the vehicle cool before your big trip.
The battery temperature also adjusts for any temperature changes when preconditioning an EV. By using this feature, your car will run smoothly and preserve its battery life, despite the weather outside.
Park your vehicle in a shade
Electric-powered items tend to overheat and perform more poorly when they are exposed to prolonged heat, and EV batteries are similar. One of the easiest things to do for your EV when it’s hot outside is to simply park it underneath some shade.
Use less applications while you drive
When you open several applications on your phone, the device starts getting hotter and runs slower. EV batteries behave in the same way. The more background processes that run on your EV, the hotter your battery gets.
When in hot weather, it may be wise to close some of those external applications if they’re not important. Game apps, text messaging and music streaming services that are running on your EV’s software are just a few features that can be closed to save your vehicle’s battery life.
Leave the EV plugged in
When an EV is plugged in, it automatically draws upon these systems to regulate the battery’s temperature using the electricity directly from the outlet. This is a little bit different from preconditioning.
Whereas preconditioning works due to your input, thermal management systems are automatic and get activated whenever there’s a need for it.
Only charge your EV up to 80%
Electric car batteries are the same type found in electronic devices like laptops and smartphones. So, when it comes to charging, there is an optimum percentage you need to bear in mind to avoid overcharging.
Most manufacturers recommend not fully charging your electric car to 100%, otherwise the battery can get too hot. In hot weather you should only charge your electric car up to a maximum of 80%.
Use eco-mode while driving
Most electric and hybrid cars have an eco-mode driver setting that increases the efficiency of your EV. It does this by limiting the amount of power you have for electronic systems and accelerating, for example.
Because your electric car will be using more energy in the heat, making use of this mode will significantly save your EV’s range. You can then spend less time stopping at charge points to top up your batteries.
Avoid driving between noon and 3 pm
The hours between noon and 3 pm are usually the hottest, so try to avoid driving during these times. By doing the majority of your journey during the cooler parts of the day you can reduce the amount of energy your EV uses.
Extreme temperatures are known to use more of your electric car’s battery power, especially in the heat which can cause the unit to overheat and use more energy than normal.
Hope this article on tips to drive your electric vehicle in hot weather is useful to you. To read about jobs in the Electric Vehicle Industry, please visit Job opportunities in Electric Vehicle Sector and its Charging Infrastructure industry