With the increasing popularity of electric vehicles (EVs), more and more car owners are enjoying the convenience of green travel. However, extreme weather conditions in summer, such as high temperatures, thunderstorms, and heavy rains, present numerous challenges for EV charging. This article will provide a detailed explanation of the precautions to take when charging electric vehicles in the summer, helping you charge safely and efficiently while extending the lifespan of the battery.
Before starting to charge your electric vehicle, making adequate preparations is crucial to ensuring ev charging safety and extending battery life. Below are some important steps to help you prepare for summer charging.
Before charging, car owners should first check the vehicle to ensure there are no faults or abnormalities. Special attention should be paid to the battery system, charging interface, and cables to ensure they are intact and there is no abnormal heating or burnt smells. If any abnormalities are found, contact a professional repair technician for inspection and maintenance before charging.
The condition of the charging equipment is equally important. Before charging, be sure to check that the charging station, cables, and sockets are free from damage, corrosion, or signs of aging and that they comply with national safety standards. At the same time, check the circuits and wiring to avoid accidents caused by damaged equipment or aging lines. If using a portable charger, ensure that the plug and socket are properly connected with no looseness or damage.
In summer, it is best to choose a shady and well-ventilated location for charging, avoiding charging in direct sunlight or in hot, enclosed garages. This can effectively reduce the temperature of the battery and charging equipment, improve charging efficiency, and extend the battery's lifespan. If possible, choose an underground parking lot or a location with shading facilities for charging.
Summer high temperatures not only make it unbearably hot but also pose challenges to the charging of electric vehicles. High temperatures can cause the battery to overheat, reduce charging efficiency, and even lead to safety hazards. Therefore, extra caution is required when charging in hot weather. Pay attention to the following points:
Rapid charging in high temperatures will exacerbate chemical reactions and heat generation inside the battery, leading to an increase in battery temperature, higher internal pressure, and even potential safety incidents. Therefore, during high-temperature weather in summer, try to avoid using fast charging methods, or choose a shady, ventilated area to charge. If the vehicle has been exposed to the sun for an extended period, the temperature of the power box will rise, which will cause the battery temperature to increase. Charging immediately may accelerate the aging and damage of internal circuits, increasing the risk of fire. Therefore, after driving in high-temperature conditions for a long period, the vehicle should be stopped for 20-30 minutes to allow the battery and components to cool down before charging.
Although electric vehicle batteries have overcharge protection, long charging times will still cause some damage to the battery. Overcharging leads to excessive gas and heat generation inside the battery, accelerating its aging process. Therefore, car owners should reasonably control the charging time based on their actual needs and avoid overcharging. Generally, the average charging time for a car battery is around 10 hours. In addition, performing a full discharge followed by a complete charge once a month helps to "activate" the battery and improve its capacity. It is recommended to charge daily, allowing the battery to remain in a shallow cycle state, which will extend its lifespan.
When charging, do not perform any operations that will increase the internal charging load of the battery, such as using the air conditioner inside the car. For pure electric vehicles, it is acceptable to use onboard appliances in slow-charging mode, but this will consume power and extend charging time. Therefore, it is best not to use them unless necessary. If using the fast-charging mode, it is best to avoid using onboard appliances. Fast-charging mode increases the current, so using appliances during this time may lead to excessive current, potentially damaging the appliances.
Summer brings frequent rain, and when charging electric vehicles during rainy weather, car owners need to be extra cautious. Rain, lightning, and other natural factors can damage charging equipment and vehicles, even causing safety accidents. Therefore, it is essential to master the safety points for charging on rainy days.
When charging electric vehicles on rainy days, lightning strikes may hit the charging lines, producing huge currents and voltages that could damage the battery and cause further losses. Therefore, during thunderstorms, car owners should stay away from metal objects and open areas to avoid becoming a lightning discharge path. Never charge your vehicle during a thunderstorm to avoid fire hazards caused by lightning strikes.
When charging on rainy days, car owners should choose a dry environment, avoiding low-lying and waterlogged areas. At the same time, make sure the charging port and charging gun are dry, and keep your hands dry when inserting or removing the charging gun and closing the vehicle's charging cover. Check whether the fast-charging gun has been soaked by rain, and ensure that there is no water or debris inside the gun. Before using it, wipe the inside of the gun head clean. When removing the charging gun from the charging station, avoid rainwater splashing into the gun head and ensure that the nozzle is facing down. When inserting or removing the charging gun from the car's charging port, always use a rain cover to protect the charging gun and vehicle charging port from rain exposure. After charging, immediately cover the vehicle's charging port.
Although charging stations and charging guns have certain waterproof capabilities, the risks of lightning strikes and short circuits should still be avoided. Car owners should regularly inspect the condition of the charging cables and sockets to prevent short-circuit accidents caused by wear or aging. If any damage or aging is found, the charging equipment should be replaced or repaired immediately to ensure safe charging.
Choosing the right EV charging method is essential for the battery's lifespan and charging efficiency. Different charging methods have different characteristics and suitable scenarios.
Electric vehicles generally offer both fast and slow charging options. Fast charging can replenish the battery quickly, but the high current and voltage put greater stress on the battery, leading to issues such as the shedding of active materials and increased heating. Therefore, during summer, it is recommended to use slow charging methods as much as possible to minimize damage to the battery. Slow charging typically uses the vehicle's onboard charger, delivers lower current, and takes longer but helps to protect the battery.
It is advisable to choose smart charging stations to prevent overcurrent, overcharging, and overheating. Smart charging stations equipped with microchip technology offer over-voltage protection, under-voltage protection, overcurrent protection, short-circuit protection, leakage protection, grounding protection, temperature protection, lightning protection, and other features to ensure the entire charging process is safe. Smart charging stations can automatically adjust the charging current and voltage according to the battery's state, preventing unnecessary damage while improving charging efficiency.
Once the charging is complete, this does not mean everything is ready. To ensure the vehicle's safety and the battery's health, car owners must still pay attention to the following points.
Timely Clean the Charging Equipment: After charging, immediately clean the charging equipment, including the charging station, cables, and charging gun. Check for dust, debris, or accumulated water and clean the equipment thoroughly. Special care should be taken to ensure that the charging gun head and vehicle charging port are dry and clean to prevent short circuits or leakage accidents.
Check the Vehicle's Condition: After charging, inspect the vehicle to ensure that it is in good condition. Check the vehicle's battery system, charging interface, and cables to ensure there is no abnormal heating or burnt smells. If any issues are found, immediately contact a professional repair technician for inspection and maintenance.
Park the Vehicle Properly: When parking, choose higher ground to avoid flooding. Do not leave flammable or explosive items in the car, especially near the front windshield. Do not place items such as lighters, paper, or air fresheners in hot environments, as these can lead to accidents.
Summer's extreme weather conditions, such as high temperatures, thunderstorms, and heavy rains, pose numerous challenges to charging electric vehicles. Car owners must exercise extra caution when charging during the summer by following the proper preparations, choosing suitable charging locations and methods, paying attention to safety precautions for high temperatures and rainy days, and controlling charging times. By following these precautions, you can safely and efficiently charge your EV, extend the battery life, and enjoy the convenience of green travel provided by electric vehicles.
