Worry not, some armchair scientists tell us, batteries will last longer as Earth’s climate changes. That’s because climate and batteries are in a reciprocal relationship. Batteries are part of the solution to decarbonize energy, and batteries will have more energy in a warmer environment. But is this really true what those pundits say? Is it not also a fact that extreme weather may be colder?
Climate, Ambient Temperature and Battery Performance
Batteries available commercially perform best during discharge cycles at temperatures between 68° and 86° F (20° and 30° C). Hughes and Harris writing in Science Direct (see link below) continue by explaining the aims of battery management systems as follows;
- Maintain battery temperature between 68° and 86° F (20° and 30° C) during discharging.
- Lower battery temperature to between 64° and 77° F (18° and 25° C) during recharging.
- Achieve these two objectives while using as little battery energy as possible in the process.
We know that batteries are less efficient during winter-time freezes, including aging starter batteries that crank slower on cold mornings. But how does this relationship between climate and batteries play out in practice? A pared-down layperson’s explanation could be that the ions shuttle at a slower rate between the electrodes. We could compare this to exercising outside on a cold winter morning.
However, Climate Change Also Means Hotter Summers
The northern hemisphere summer just past, underscores the point that temperature may also soar in summer. When ambient temperatures reach above 95ºF (35ºC), Rolls Battery explains, batteries without management systems may overheat, rapidly drain down their stored energy, and even suffer serious damage.
Therefore, it seems likely that extreme hot and cold conditions, heralding climate change will affect the efficiency of batteries. Battery management systems use energy. They could drain energy storage and electric vehicle batteries faster too. This might in turn influence electrochemical energy’s influence over climate change. This is yet another reason to keep seeking alternative energy storage solutions.
More Information
Low Temperature Battery Performance Update
Wider Temperature Range for Lithium Sulfur
Preview Image: Nickel Iron Charge Efficiency
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