The electric car paradox: They’re good for the planet, but heat waves reduce their reach

The electric car paradox: They’re good for the planet, but heat waves reduce their reach

Electric cars, which help fight climate change so much, don’t handle heat waves very well, like those hitting Europe and the United States these days. An irony related to the batteries of these vehicles, which may get sick due to the heat. The agency stated that it is not a fatal disease, but “more like heart disease or cancer,” which worsens with exposure to risk factors. bloomberg. From a thermodynamic point of view, a car must consume more to keep its temperature and the temperature of its occupants at an appropriate level, but chemistry plays against lithium-ion batteries. The same ions that speed up their movements as the thermometer rises struggle to bind to the anode and the cathode, while it is precisely this shift between the two electrodes that transfers energy to the motor. Moreover, heat and pressure can generate ruptures in the battery which degrades its performance.

treatments

Results? Reduced battery life (that’s why many phones automatically turn off when they get too hot). It’s a bit like leaving it under constant charging, the movement of the ions is the same. What are the treatments? Leave the car in the shade, especially in the summer, use fast chargers as little as possible, keep it charged when leaving it in the garage and unplug the cable when it reaches 100%. Battery life over time has become a feature that electric vehicle buyers are increasingly paying attention to. And as summer heats up, this may be the key for producers to make a difference in the market.

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