Does high summer temperatures affect electric car owners’ driving?
Tens of millions of “rare” heat waves burning in the eastern US
People from Kansas to Maine are enduring “extreme heat risks,” according to the National Weather Service.
- Extreme heat is particularly troublesome for electric car owners.
- High temperatures can be disastrous for lithium-ion batteries that power EVs.
- There are ways to keep your EV cool without sacrificing range.
Summer is just beginning and it is already becoming a scorcher. Several states have reached record high temperatures.
According to Experian Automotive, in 2024 there were over 4 million electric vehicles on American roads, with the EVS accounting for 1.4% of all vehicles. Some companies, like General Motors, sell more electric vehicles than ever before. So, do millions of American electric car owners have the trouble of charging and driving EVs this summer?
How does extreme heat affect the performance of electric vehicles?
Most major automakers, including Ford, General Motors, Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Volkswagen, and more, have deployed nameplates for electric vehicles. The US EV adoption process may slow compared to other countries, but electric vehicles are ubiquitous in America’s biggest cities, such as Los Angeles and San Francisco.
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One of the biggest challenges faced by electric car owners is performance issues related to extreme temperatures. The most popular electric vehicles use lithium-ion batteries and electric motors to transfer power to the wheels. These batteries are very sensitive to very high and low temperatures.
According to cars and drivers, high temperatures can slow down driving range, battery deterioration and charging time. Ultimately, driving an electric vehicle with extreme heat puts a strain on the vehicle’s batteries. Furthermore, certain operation of the EV’s air conditioning system can further deplete the operating range.
Drivers planning to travel only for short distances at extreme temperatures may not need to worry. On the other hand, drivers who rely on the full driving range of the EV in optimal conditions can encounter frustrating performance issues.
How car brands tackle the performance issues of electric vehicles
Many automakers are developing the latest thermal management systems for electric vehicles. These systems use liquid or air cooling methods to cool lithium-ion batteries. If these heat management systems are ineffective, electric vehicles can be rendered immobilized (or bad) due to overheating of the battery.
Some electric vehicles are burning during charging due to overheating of lithium-ion batteries. These events are not exclusive to summer or extreme temperatures, but heat can exacerbate battery issues with EVs that are prone to overheating. Fortunately, weather-related performance issues are boring for American drivers, but there are many measures that owners can take to avoid major issues.
How to prevent performance problems in electric vehicles with extreme heat
There is no sure way to prevent an electric vehicle from overheating at extreme temperatures, but there are steps that the driver can take to keep the EV cool and improve performance.
Steps to cool your electric vehicle at high temperatures
- Park in a shady area if possible to avoid heating the cabin
- Higher wattage charges generate more heat, limiting fast charging
- Charge with a squirting band instead of one long session
- Reduce air conditioner use by rolling windows while moving
Owning an electric vehicle with extreme heat is not always convenient. That said, there are workarounds that drivers can resort to when battery drainage or overheating is a concern.
