One of the most important keys to electric cars is their cooling system. The most modern models have two air conditioning systems, one for the battery itself and another for the interior. Some options that affect autonomy, but much less than you think.
The electric carsLike the combustion ones, they have cooling systems. While the latter have one for the passenger compartment and one for the engine, in the case of the former they are somewhat more special, since the interior air conditioner is joined by another specific for powertrain components and, especially for the battery, which maintains a constant temperature for its operation.
Newer zero emission models have a cabin pre-climate option, whereby you can select a temperature for the cabin before entering it, very useful in summer when high temperatures they make a dent But it is also extremely important for the charging process, since an optimal temperature will allow the high-voltage battery not to exceed temperature ranges marked by the manufacturer, nor the power electronics.
Refrigeration in electric cars barely consumes
One of the advantages is that the charging power can be increased, while also reducing the time connected to the electrical network. Manufacturers recommend keeping a temperature in the battery between 20º and 40ºalthough this also depends on the chemistry of the cells, so in some cases it can exceed this limit value, although it is not normal.
However, both the air conditioning of the propulsion components, the traction battery and, of course, the passenger compartment, use energy stored in the battery, also increasing costs. Something that manufacturers have taken into consideration for the latest generation of electric cars that is coming to the market, now being more resistant to heat and high temperatures. Interior materials are now more insulating and of a higher quality, thus considerably reducing heating, which also helps to reduce the energy load needed for cooling.
According to a study by the German ADAC, the energy consumption of the automatic climate control in electric cars during the summer is between 0.5 and 1 kWa figure so minimal that it is barely perceptible in the maximum autonomy, but that rises considerably in winter when it is necessary to heat both the battery and the interior. And yet it also depends on other factors such as the outside temperature, the battery and the climate control settings. Despite this, the study points out that electric cars are more efficient, consume less energy and increase their autonomy in Mediterranean countries where climates are warmer and outside temperatures are close to 20º.
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ADAC