Cold Weather can Restrict EV Range and Create Charging Challenges

Electric-vehicle owners across a wide region, from Chicago to northern Texas, have experienced a challenging week due to freezing temperatures, resulting in decreased driving range and prolonged waits at charging stations.

In Oak Brook, Illinois, close to Chicago, television reporters discovered Teslas running low on battery while queuing for charging plugs at a Supercharger station. The temperature had dropped to a frigid minus 9 Fahrenheit (-23 Celsius).

In the vicinity of Ann Arbor, Michigan, Teslas were connected to six out of eight charging stations amid strong winds and a temperature of 7 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 14 Celsius). One driver was on the brink of running out of battery.

The impact of cold weather on electric vehicles is widely recognized, particularly in subzero temperatures across the nation’s mid-section. Research indicates that the range loss can range from 10% to 36%.

Extreme cold temperatures not only reduce the efficiency of electric vehicle ranges but also impede charging speed. Tesla owners near Chicago reported to journalists that their cars wouldn’t charge at all in these harsh conditions.

While experts acknowledge the challenges that cold weather poses for EVs, they assert that with careful planning and minor adjustments, owners should be able to travel nearly as usual.

What´s the problem?

In the internal structure of EV batteries, lithium ions move through a liquid electrolyte to generate electricity. However, in cold temperatures, their movement slows down, resulting in reduced energy release and diminished range, ultimately leading to faster battery depletion.

Conversely, in colder temperatures, the sluggish movement of electrons hinders the battery’s ability to accept as much electricity from a charging plug, leading to a slowdown in the charging process.

In freezing temperatures, batteries must attain a sufficient warmth to facilitate electron movement, especially crucial at fast-charging stations like Tesla’s, where an even higher temperature is required.

Neil Dasgupta, associate professor of mechanical and materials science engineering at the University of Michigan, explains, “Pretty much anything that’s a chemical substance slows down when you get to a low temperature. That’s just something that nature has given us, and we have to deal with that.”

At a Supercharger station in Pittsfield Township, Michigan, near Ann Arbor, Ankita Bansal’s Tesla had only 7% of its charge remaining. Despite plugging in, the car wouldn’t accept electricity; instead, the display indicated the battery was heating up. Once reaching the required temperature, it would take an hour and 50 minutes to achieve a full charge, as per the display.

Expressing concern, Bansal, a University of Michigan graduate student, remarked, “I have a long way to go,” emphasizing the need to reach a full charge as she lacks a charging station at home.

How to make it work

Bruce Westlake, president of the Eastern Michigan Electric Vehicle Association, noted that the majority of EVs are designed to initiate battery warming if the driver informs the vehicle’s navigation system about an upcoming trip to the charging station.

Westlake, who owns two Teslas, mentioned that individuals facing charging issues often lack experience with EVs and may not be familiar with the process of “preconditioning” their batteries to enhance charging capabilities.

“They’re just learning,” he said. Acknowledging a learning curve, Westlake mentioned, “And Tesla isn’t very good at explaining some things.” A comment from Tesla was sought, but no response was received at the time of the report.

Westlake explained that in extremely cold temperatures, it can take around half an hour to warm the battery for charging readiness. While preconditioning the battery may result in a slight range reduction, typically only a few miles are affected, according to him.

Having owned her Tesla for just a week, Bansal was initially unaware of the preconditioning process before charging. However, she has now learned about it.

Kim Burney’s Tesla Model 3 Charges Up After a Frosty Morning Trip to the Dentist

Kim Burney’s Tesla Model 3, parked a few stalls away from Bansal’s, was charging slightly slower than usual in the frigid temperatures. After an extended trip to her dentist in Ann Arbor earlier that morning, Burney aimed to secure close to a full charge for the remaining travels of the day.

To expedite the charging process, Burney informed her car about the upcoming visit to the charging station. As a result, the vehicle was prepared and ready for charging by the time she arrived and plugged in.

Echoing Westlake’s sentiment, Burney emphasized the importance of planning ahead for EV drivers, especially in cold weather. She mentioned that the car provides information about charging stations and remaining range, advising, “The more you drive it, the more you’re comfortable knowing how far you can go and how much to charge it.”

In chilly conditions, Burney experiences a drop of around 15% to 20% in her battery range, but the decrease becomes significantly more pronounced during severe cold snaps, like the one this week.

The future of charging

In the near future, automakers are expected to develop improved methods to safeguard battery life and enhance warming for charging, as stated by Dasgupta. Additionally, ongoing developments include new battery chemistries designed to be more resilient in cold weather.

Dasgupta explained that in the short term, with the increasing adoption of EVs by mainstream consumers and the entry of more automakers into the market, models utilizing current lithium-ion chemistry will be designed to cater to colder climates. In certain instances, there might be a slight sacrifice in overall range to achieve improved cold-weather performance.

Significant investments are being made in new battery technology that exhibits superior performance in cold conditions. These advancements, initially applied in military, aerospace, and undersea sectors, are expected to transition into electric vehicles, according to Dasgupta.

He encouraged being an EV driver in a cold-weather climate, expressing optimism and excitement about the future, assuring that it would only improve from that point onward.

Read the original article on: TechXplore

Read more: Self-driving Cars Offer Promise and Concerns for People with Disabilities