It’s no secret that batteries don’t like hot climates and a new study out of the U.S. has revealed how hot weather can impact the battery life of an electric vehicle. The study could prove particularly useful for those in the market for a used EV, highlighting the potential benefit of finding one that’s lived in a cooler-climate area.
In its study, Recurrent set out to discover how much range a 2020 Tesla Model Y would have in cold and marine climate zones compared to those in hot climate zones. The vehicle was given a Range Score for each zone, representing the percentage of the original quoted range that it should be able to achieve. For example, a Range Score of 90 means it is expected to get 90% of its original range.
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Recurrent’s research revealed that 2020 Tesla Model Ys in cold and marine climate zones have an average Range Score of 95. By comparison, those in hot environments have an average Range Score of 92. The study says that prolonged exposure to heat adds extra energy to the electrochemical reactions in the battery, accelerating degradation. It adds that “the generally accepted threshold for accelerated battery degradation is around 30 degrees C or around 86 degrees F.”
Tips to extend the life of your EV battery in hot weather
Fortunately, there are things that EV owners in hot climates can do to extend the life of their battery packs. For example, parking in a garage or in the shade is always a good idea but if you do have to park outside in the heat, it is best to do so when the battery is half-charged.
Additionally, Recurrent says that newer LFP batteries are more resilient to high temperatures and that it is important to buy an EV with an active thermal management system. It can also be a good idea to keep an EV plugged in with a charge limit set when it is not in use as battery cooling is often enabled at lower temperatures when the car is plugged in.
The study looked at over 12,500 Tesla vehicles in the United States to make its conclusion. Recurrent says the results were true among all Tesla models and model years but says they were most apparent with 2020 Model Ys.
