MOSCOW, May 20. An electric car should not be left in the sun in the heat, and it is better to choose night time for charging, said an expert from the NTI Infrastructure Center Autonet » Moscow Polytechnic University, Professor of the Department «Automobiles» MADI, Doctor of Technical Sciences Sergey Shadrin.
«In abnormal heat above 40 degrees Celsius, it is better not to leave an electric car in the open sun, just as not to use charging at this point in time. When driving at ambient temperatures above 30-35 degrees Celsius, a slight decrease in the power reserve will occur. Charge the electric car in the hot season is better at night, and stored in a covered, ventilated parking lot,» Shadrin said.
The operation of electric vehicles in the hot season is associated with the peculiarities of the operation of traction batteries (TAB). According to the expert, the operating temperature range of the TAB in the upper limit, depending on the type of battery, is from 40 to 50 degrees, after which degradation of the battery characteristics begins, a decrease in service life and further overheating up to ignition.
To maintain the operating temperature regime, electric vehicles are equipped with temperature control systems that heat and cool the battery cells depending on the ambient temperature and operating conditions. The temperature control system uses the energy of the same traction battery, so its operation reduces the potential power reserve, Shadrin explained.
“Traction batteries heat up both during power output and during recharging, therefore, in hot weather, when charging an electric vehicle, the TAB control system will limit the charge current, which will increase the charging time of the electric vehicle. At the same time, in case of abnormal heat, the TAB control system will activate the cooling system even on a parked electric vehicle, thereby discharging the traction battery, but maintaining it in a safe temperature regime,» the expert added.
From the point of view of year-round use of an electric car, storage in an underground heated parking lot, which is warm in winter and cool in summer, is optimal, Shadrin concluded.