Four key points to remember when using batteries in winter!
During the cold winter, there are numerous reports about reduced battery life and slower charging speeds of lithium-ion batteries. This is because low temperatures have a significant impact on lithium batteries, and the reduction in battery life at low temperatures is a long-standing problem.
Currently, the vast majority of electric vehicles and even electronic digital products on the market use lithium batteries. For example, mobile phones drain their batteries particularly quickly in winter, and the same applies to the batteries of pure electric vehicles. It is evident that the performance characteristics of batteries differ at low temperatures and normal temperatures. The reason for this difference is mainly because temperature changes affect the chemical reactions that occur inside lithium batteries.
The electrochemical reactions at the electrode/electrolyte interface in lithium-ion batteries are temperature-dependent. At low temperatures, the viscosity of the electrolyte decreases, leading to reduced conductivity and activity of the active materials. This results in a larger concentration gradient in the electrolyte, enhanced polarization, and slower lithium-ion diffusion at the negative electrode, increasing the likelihood of lithium deposition. Furthermore, the reaction rate at the electrodes decreases with decreasing temperature. Assuming a constant battery voltage, a decrease in discharge current will also reduce the battery's power output.
According to relevant test reports, in automotive batteries, the performance of power batteries generally begins to be affected in environments below 10°C, but the impact is not significant. Below 0°C, the impact becomes more noticeable, and -20°C is a turning point, at which point the temperature has a very significant effect on battery discharge performance.
Since extreme cold can affect the driving range of pure electric vehicles, are there any good ways to avoid this reduction in range during winter?
1. Park the vehicle in an indoor garage. When parking, try to park pure electric vehicles in a garage to reduce the impact of low temperatures on the power battery, thereby reducing the loss of driving range. This way, the driving range of the pure electric vehicle will not be significantly reduced, so as not to affect pure electric vehicle owners who need to use the car early the next morning.
2. Charge when the battery temperature is higher. Low temperatures can also affect battery charging efficiency. Therefore, in winter, it is best to charge as needed. Charge the battery immediately after use, when the battery temperature is higher, the charging efficiency is faster, and the battery can be fully charged.
In addition, try to find indoor charging stations when charging in winter. If there are no indoor charging facilities, it is best to charge outdoors during the daytime when the temperature is highest. This will help improve battery activity, reduce the loss of driving range, improve charging efficiency, and save time.
3. Preheat the vehicle before setting off. The warm-up method for pure electric vehicles differs from that of traditional gasoline vehicles. Before using a pure electric vehicle, preheat the battery by charging it. During the charging process, the battery gradually heats up, which in turn warms the coolant stored in the battery pack, preventing the battery from "losing" power and thus improving the vehicle's winter performance.
4. Make good use of the energy recovery system. When driving your car, pay attention to slow acceleration and smooth driving. Try to avoid aggressive driving techniques such as sudden acceleration, sudden deceleration, and sudden braking. During aggressive driving, the electric vehicle's battery needs to release a large amount of electricity to increase speed, which will cause the battery level to drop rapidly. Smooth driving can minimize energy consumption and extend the driving range.
At the same time, pure electric vehicle owners can make more use of the kinetic energy recovery system to increase extra range and significantly improve safety on icy and snowy roads, since slamming on the brakes on snow can easily cause the vehicle to lose traction.
