A cold snap can cause chaos for electric vehicle drivers queuing at charging stations, especially if their own batteries are low. That’s because rechargeable lithium-ion batteries don’t work as well at sub-zero temperatures, according to Scientific American. However, help is at hand as cold weather electric vehicle batteries begin appearing from companies like China’s CATL.
Double Bind for Cold Weather Electric Vehicles
Cold snaps may continue to become more extreme, as another generation of gasoline vehicles takes its toll. The current range of electric cars will charge slower in winter as a result. This will delay the uptake of electric transport.
“Extreme cold introduces safety risks for charging batteries,” says Paul Gasper, a scientist at National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Lithium-ion batteries perform best between 32 to 140 ºF. But, by the time the temperature falls below 20 ºF, they have lost 12% of their driving range.
The problem lies with the liquid electrolyte in lithium ion batteries. When the battery chills this material thickens, and this in turn causes the ions to shuttle slower between the battery electrodes.
Chilly batteries don’t only take longer to recharge. They also lose their charge faster than on a pleasant summer’s day. This is the core problem that is signaling the need for cold weather electric vehicle batteries soon.
Could Sodium Batteries Solve The Cold Snap Problem?
Clean Technica suggests that sodium-ion batteries could help address this concern. This is because sodium-ion chemistry performs better at lower temperatures than the lithium-ion alternative. Although, as The Cool Down points out, sodium-ion density is far lower than the best lithium-ion batteries.
But there is hope on the horizon, The Cool Down continues. Chinese company Contemporary Amperex Technology (CATL) is working on a new generation of sodium-ion batteries. Apparently, these ‘operate well’ at -40 ºF. Being CATL products, we are optimistic they will perform well in terms of density too.
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