In the summer, most areas of Shandong are hot and humid, and there will be heavy rain from time to time, which will catch people off guard. High temperature can be called the “natural enemy” of new energy vehicle power batteries. It will quietly shorten the range and may also bury safety hazards; heavy rains and frequent water accumulation also bring challenges to the driving and parking of new energy vehicles. What are the common questions about the use of new energy vehicles in summer? What are the precautions?
I.Is it safe to charge in summer?
Charging in hot weather is safe
As long as the battery temperature does not alarm (no prompt on the instrument panel), it can be charged normally, but the power needs to be reduced.
Potential risks: When the ambient temperature is too high (such as over 40°C), fast charging may cause the battery temperature to rise sharply, triggering the BMS (battery management system) current limiting protection and reducing the charging speed. Long-term impact: Charging at continuous high temperature may accelerate battery aging. Avoid full charging: It is recommended to charge to 80%~90% in high temperature environment (the battery voltage is the highest when fully charged, which increases internal pressure).
Do not charge during thunderstorms
When charging in the open air or in low-lying areas, if it rains, stop charging and drive the vehicle away to prevent water accumulation and short circuits. Before charging the vehicle, please observe the condition of the charging gun and charging base, and charge only when the charging port is intact; after charging, be sure to keep the charging port dry when removing the gun.
II.Are high-temperature vehicles prone to spontaneous combustion?
Not a direct cause: A simple high temperature environment (such as summer sun exposure) usually does not directly cause battery spontaneous combustion. The temperature resistance range of electric vehicle batteries is generally -30℃~60℃, and short-term high temperatures are monitored and regulated by the battery management system (BMS).
However, high temperature is one of the causes: long-term high temperature exposure may accelerate battery aging. If other hidden dangers (such as battery damage, short circuit, etc.) are added, the risk will increase.
Minimize the risk
(1) Avoid parking in high temperature exposure for a long time (especially when the battery is fully charged).
(2) Avoid continuous fast charging at high temperatures (such as fast charging immediately after a long-distance trip, it is recommended to cool for more than 10 minutes before charging).
(3) Use original or certified charging equipment to prevent overcharging.
(4) During maintenance, it is required to check the sealing of the battery pack and the cooling system (whether the liquid cooling/air cooling is normal).
Do not place items such as perfume in the car
Many people have the habit of placing perfume in the car, but they do not know that this will increase the risk of spontaneous combustion of the vehicle. In addition, lighters, alcohol disinfectants, power banks, reading glasses and other items are prone to explosion or combustion due to high temperatures, which poses a safety hazard. Develop the habit of checking the car before getting out of the car, and do not leave these items in the car.
III. Does exposure to the sun reduce the battery life?
It does have an impact: the optimal operating temperature of the battery is 25-35℃. When it exceeds 40℃, the BMS will start the cooling system, consuming additional power; the air conditioner consumes more power, and continuous use may reduce the battery life by 10%-25%. The increase in road temperature increases the rolling resistance of the tires.
Practical power saving tips:
(1) When parking, give priority to shade or underground garages to reduce exposure to the sun.
(2) Use the mobile phone APP to remotely turn on the air conditioner to cool down in advance.
(3) Use sunshades or windshield reflectors to lower the temperature inside the vehicle.
(4) Increase tire pressure by 10% from the manufacturer’s standard value (e.g., the standard 2.5 Bar can be increased to 2.7 Bar) to reduce rolling resistance.
IV. Parking safety tips.
(1) Charging while parking
Parking in the shade: Charging the vehicle in the sun or overcharging for a long time will damage the battery. Before charging the vehicle, the vehicle should be parked and left to stand for 10-15 minutes. Choose to charge in the early morning, evening, or in the shade; monitor the battery temperature and stop charging when it exceeds 55°C. Reasonably control the charging time, do not overcharge, and disconnect the power supply in time after full charging.
Try to choose slow charging: Frequent use of fast charging, especially in high temperatures in summer, will increase the battery activity. The heat generated during fast charging is not easy to dissipate, which affects the battery life. If conditions permit, try to choose slow charging as much as possible. If fast charging is required, pay attention to the ambient temperature during charging and avoid charging in an overheated environment.
(2) Long-term parking
Ensure the appropriate power: When the remaining power is below 20%, the vehicle needs to be charged in time. It is not recommended to park the vehicle for a long time. When the power is below 20%, if the vehicle is parked in the open air for more than two weeks, the high temperature will accelerate the self-discharge of the battery, causing deep damage to the electrode material and causing a decrease in capacity. If the vehicle needs to be parked for a long time, the power should be maintained at 50%-80% before parking.
Open-air parking suggestions: In summer, if the vehicle is parked in an open-air parking lot for a long time, it is recommended to buy a car cover. Long-term exposure to the sun will not only damage the paint, but also affect the life of the electronic equipment in the car.
(3) Parking on rainy days
Park the car in an underground garage with good drainage, or in a parking space with a stable roof and complete drainage facilities. This can prevent the car from being exposed to the sun and can also provide a certain degree of shelter from the wind and rain.
Disconnect the vehicle’s low-voltage main power supply. After parking, be sure to close the doors and windows; after charging, try to disconnect the vehicle’s low-voltage main power supply to prevent leakage.
V. Driving in heavy rain.
(1) Avoid flooded roads as much as possible. If it is unavoidable, keep the speed as low as possible during wading. Avoid bumping the chassis to damage the waterproof layer of the vehicle chassis, or even bumping the chassis or battery pack, causing the chassis to rust. (2) Observe the depth of wading. Try to ensure that the depth of wading does not exceed the chassis. If the battery of a new energy vehicle is soaked in water for a long time, it will bring greater safety risks. If the owner cannot judge the depth of the water, it is better to wait than to wade through it rashly. (3) Do not restart or power on after flooding. When the vehicle is flooded, it is strictly forbidden to power on or start the vehicle. Powering on may cause a short circuit in the electrical appliances in the vehicle, and starting the vehicle may cause further losses. VI. Use the air conditioner reasonably. (1) Do not turn on the air conditioning internal circulation immediately after exposure to the sun
The temperature inside the car after exposure to the sun is extremely high. If you turn on the air conditioning internal circulation at this time, the air conditioning system will first deal with the accumulated heat, and the cooling efficiency is low; you should first open all the doors and windows, turn on the fan external circulation, let the hot air of the vehicle be discharged first, and then turn on the air conditioning after a few minutes, adjust the external circulation first, and then switch to the internal circulation when the temperature drops.
(2) It is best not to turn on the air conditioning while charging
You can charge while turning on the air conditioning, but it is generally not recommended. If you turn on the air conditioning in the car in fast charging mode, the vehicle may be damaged due to excessive current. In slow charging mode, turning on the air conditioning in the car will increase power consumption, causing the charging time to be extended again.
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