As an excessive warmth wave continues throughout the southern US and threatens to unfold north, listed here are 5 methods EV drivers can preserve their vehicles working within the face of record-breaking excessive temperatures.

Park within the shade. If parking your EV within the shade is additional away out of your workplace or the grocery store, go forward and take a stroll. Parking within the shade on a scorching day is especially good for EVs, because it helps cut back the automotive’s temperature and protects the battery from overheating.

In keeping with the Nationwide Renewable Vitality Laboratory, parking an EV in direct daylight may cause the battery temperature to extend by as much as 12F, however parking within the shade can preserve the battery temperature at or under the ambient temperature.

Hold your EV battery charged to 80%. Excessive temperatures may cause an EV battery to degrade quicker. Hold the battery charged to make sure your EV has the ability it wants.

Retaining a battery charged between 20-80% will help extend its lifespan, whereas letting it sit at greater than 80% for prolonged intervals may cause it to degrade quicker. Additionally, plan your driving route so that you just use your battery energy correctly.

Use air-con sparingly. Don’t blast the AC – it could cut back the vary of your EV. Precondition the automotive earlier than you enter, ideally whereas it’s nonetheless plugged in, which will help cut back the period of time wanted to run the AC. And when you don’t want it, flip the temperature up, or flip it off.

Monitor tire strain. Excessive warmth causes your tires to increase, and that may result in overinflation and cut back an EV’s vary. So monitor the tire strain usually and modify it as wanted.

Yow will discover the advisable tire strain on your EV within the proprietor’s handbook, inside the motive force’s facet door, or on the automotive’s laptop display screen (that’s the place I verify it for my Tesla Mannequin 3). Retaining the tires inflated to the proper strain improves general effectivity.

Keep away from DC quick charging in excessive warmth. Excessive warmth impacts charging velocity, so select cooler occasions of day for DC quick charging – if it’s important to quick cost. Throughout peak hours, some DC quick charging stations could decelerate speeds to handle demand, which helps to make sure that they don’t overheat.

Because of Kate Harrison, cofounder at MoveEV, as we referenced her article for this put up.

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