The first heat wave has been successfully overcome, but the summer is far from over and the heat will continue, so you should take care of your vehicle in order to enjoy the warm weather without worries, invites “Inter Cars Latvija” and “IC24.lv”.
Summer steam opens up opportunities to go on adventures with your car, but it can also cause unnecessary worries. Like diesel and gasoline cars, electric cars also have their own seasonal characteristics that drivers must take into account.
If the owner of an electric vehicle knows what to expect, the car will definitely be in working order and will not cause anxiety.
How to go more on a single charge
A US study of 6,000 electric cars concluded that electric car batteries discharged faster when it was hot outside and the car’s air conditioner was on.
Most electric and hybrid cars can be driven in eco mode, which increases the efficiency of the electric car. Using this mode, especially on long journeys, will significantly save the electric car’s energy, thus extending the time between charges.
When using the car for long distances in hot weather, the battery capacity may decrease – the hotter it is outside, the shorter the distance will be able to be driven due to the energy consumed by the air conditioning system.
What to do so that the battery does not overheat
The battery is the heart of every electric vehicle. Observance of very simple rules in different seasons will help to significantly extend its service life.
Modern electric cars are equipped with hydraulic battery cooling or, in more expensive versions, with a heat pump. Therefore, there is no reason to worry when using the car in hot weather. For example, drying electric cars after painting in the chamber is allowed at 60 degrees.
Electric car batteries are similar to those found in, for example, laptops and smartphones. So, when thinking about charging an electric car, you have to keep in mind the optimal charging percentage to avoid overcharging the electric car battery and thus overheating.
In particularly warm summer days, electric cars are recommended to be charged only up to 80%. If necessary, you can do a full charge from time to time, for example, if you plan to go on a long trip.
It is also recommended to use the opportunity to cool the car before leaving. This option is available in most electric cars. And it is best to do this while the car is still connected to the charging cable – then the energy will be taken from the electrical network, not the battery.
Don’t forget to take care of the tires as well
In hot weather, based on the laws of physics, tire pressure increases. It should be noted that manufacturers determine the recommended tire pressure for cold tires, and the increase in pressure is already taken into account.
Experts recommend checking the tire pressure once a month, and it must also be done before longer journeys. This is, of course, important for all types of cars, but because of the increased weight due to the battery of an electric car, it is especially important for this type of vehicle.
In the service, we recommend using the tires specified by the manufacturer and respecting the specified tire pressure, especially when driving an electric car, as the tires are exposed to more severe operating conditions.
Car owners are also recommended to buy their own pressure gauge so that it is possible to perform such a test at any time.
Electric cars, just like other types of cars, have their own characteristics, which owners should remember in order to enjoy short and long trips both in summer and in other seasons. Of course, the electric vehicle will last longer if you follow the advice of specialists and correct problems in time. Long may the electric summer continue!
