According to forecasts, about 6 million electric vehicles will be delivered worldwide by the end of 2022. The United States has announced investments of hundreds of billions of dollars in the development of electric vehicles and the necessary infrastructure. However, there is a big difference between driving an electric car in the temperate regions of the West Coast and the harsh environment of northern Minnesota or the desert heat of Arizona.
Electric vehicles face special challenges in areas where dangerous weather can last for months.
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Will electric vehicles ever become popular in areas with extreme climates?
If not, what needs to happen to benefit everywhere? Here’s what you need to know about charging in the toughest of conditions:
Reduced Range in Extreme Temperatures
In extreme weather, an electric vehicle’s range will certainly be shorter than the range a vehicle owner can reach on a full charge in average T-shirt weather. Though sometimes controversial, the consensus is that in both hot and cold weather, we only go a certain distance before needing to recharge.
Driving in extreme heat reduces a battery’s range by about 17%. This is true for temperatures above 35°C, but it is almost entirely due to keeping the interior comfortable. The majority of this energy consumption is due to the operation of the air conditioning and blower fans.
Range loss is slightly greater in colder climates; at temperatures below -6°C the range loss is estimated to be around 30%, and in even colder climates the range loss could be even lower. This is partly due to interior comfort with the electric heaters and heated seats running, but in cold climates the battery pack temperature must also be maintained, resulting in a shorter range.
The condition may worsen. More frequent charging is required in cold climates. Unlike gasoline-powered cars, which essentially “sleep” while parked, electric cars use energy to keep their batteries in a healthy temperature range. Leaving a car parked for extended periods without a power source can cause the battery to discharge to 0%, making it vulnerable to damage.
This is rare but possible. According to Geotab research, hot weather can cause a battery’s state of health (SOH) to degrade faster, dropping by about 10% within 48 months. DC fast charging at high temperatures exacerbates the problem.
While a 10% drop in condition over four years may not seem like a big deal, it exacerbates the problem of reduced range. For example, a vehicle with a normal range of 250 miles with a new battery may only have a range of 225 miles after four years. And a 20% drop in range in cold weather could mean only 180 miles on a full charge.
That’s a far cry from the 250 miles originally expected, which could raise range anxiety. Charging infrastructure is sparse In Southern California, where electric vehicle use is perhaps the highest in the nation, curbside charging stations like those found at gas stations are becoming increasingly common.
Population density in warmer climates allows for the creation of the infrastructure needed to charge electric vehicles, especially for fast charging that isn’t possible at a car owner’s home.
However, population densities vary dramatically in harsh climates. North Dakota’s vast frozen plains are among the counties with the lowest support for charging electric vehicles. And that’s reflected in places like southeastern New Mexico, where miles of rocky desert terrain show no signs of life.
In these areas, trips of 80 miles or more without a refuelling station are common, and a lack of charging stations is sure to hurt adoption. Where there’s no grid, there’s no support Moreover, parts of the country don’t have the same access to electricity as urban areas. Local communities can use diesel generators.
Some farms and commercial and industrial operations, such as in Wyoming and Montana, transport fuel for their vehicles to their sites by truck, but replacing them with electric vehicles is not a similar option. Additionally, many of these commercial vehicles drive many more miles per day than the average electric vehicle can achieve.
How can the transition from fossil fuels to electricity be possible if charging options are not available or are not feasible?
What would it take to make electric vehicles profitable everywhere? For light vehicles, the current goal of most automakers and lawmakers is to complete the transition from fossil fuels to electric vehicles by 2035 or 2040.
That seems like a long way off, and there are still many challenges that need to be overcome over the next decade to reach this goal. First, battery technology needs to be further developed. Developments are happening fast in areas such as solid-state batteries that allow for faster charging and longer range, but we’re not there yet.
This would address many of the concerns around range loss and SOH issues in cold and hot conditions. Second, charging infrastructure must be provided not only in urban areas but also to drivers in rural and remote areas. No one knows what that will look like, but it will be necessary if fossil fuels become difficult to source.
Battery technology appears to be progressing in the right direction to handle extreme climates, both in terms of range and fast charging. In areas where weather has a major impact, the need for battery management becomes paramount. Repair shops and fleets must be prepared to service and care for EV batteries to ensure they last as long as possible, and Midtronics has a battery management solution, regardless of the application.
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