Air conditioning - wipes 7.5 miles of range per hour
The system typically requires around 3 to 4kW to run, though using the air conditioning setting often uses more. Over an hour-long journey, this will drain around 7.5 miles of range, Gridserve estimates.
Air conditioning drains the battery about 11% faster than when it's not being used. To resolve this issue most electric cars can be pre-heated while charging before you walk out the door. This eliminates the need to have it on full power when driving.
The AAA's study determined that when outside temperatures hit 95°F and air conditioning is in use, an EV's range will drop by an average 17 percent. Without running the A/C, an EV will suffer a 4 percent range reduction on an extremely hot day.
Tesla's A/C consumes about 700 watts. Assuming you run it continuously on high, that gives you about 100 hours of A/C with 70kwh of power. With more typical usage of keeping the car a constant temp, I think a week of cooling is possible with the 100kwh battery cars.
According to CNBC, “lithium-ion batteries like the same sort of temperatures that we do”, and perform best at a balmy 70 degrees. EVs lose power under 65 degrees, and lose it quickly under 50 degrees, however, temperatures in excess of 86 degrees also rob the vehicle of power.
These disadvantages include finding charging stations, charging times, higher initial costs, limited driving range, and battery packs can be expensive to replace.
Cold temperatures do affect electric vehicles and steal some of their range. The amount of range lost depends on many factors such as the car itself, its potential range in normal weather, and whether the heat is on.
At 20 degrees F (minus 7 C), electric vehicles just don't go as far as they do at the ideal 70 degrees. Part of it is that keeping passengers warm using traditional technology drains the battery. This opens in a new window. So longer trips can be difficult in the coldest weather.
Controlling the interior and battery temperature is the biggest power drain second to driving the vehicle. Electric cars aren't able to draft off the heat of the engine to warm the cabin like ICE vehicles can.
Weight. The size of your EV, the total passenger load, and how much cargo you carry all play a role in draining the battery. Batteries expend less energy to move lighter loads, so keep that in mind during your next road trip. Pack light if your goal is to stop less often for a recharge.
The single biggest drain on your battery, other than actually driving, is climate control. Whether that's keeping you cool in summer or toasty in winter, systems typically require about 3-4kW to run, which equates to seven miles of range per hour to run the air-con and five miles per hour to run heaters.
The average electric vehicle requires 30 kilowatt-hours to travel 100 miles — the same amount of electricity an average American home uses each day to run appliances, computers, lights and heating and air conditioning.
Charging fully can be bad
Fortunately, catastrophic failures are extremely uncommon, but battery pack degradation is much more likely. Consistently charging to 100% capacity promotes the growth of lithium metal tendrils known as dendrites that can cause a short circuit.
On average, it takes about 3 kW of energy to power your AC. That is about 180 amps drawn from your alternator circuit. The central A/C Fan compressor is 750 watts and usually uses about 1 to 2 kW of power. One ton of AC cooling is equal to 1,000 watts.
EVs lose their charge when parked, much like any other electrical device would. Most manufacturers recommend charging the battery up to 80% before parking it for a long time.
Average Battery Replacement Costs
If an EV is no longer under warranty or if its battery is damaged in an accident and isn't covered by insurance, Recurrent estimates the out-of-pocket cost for a replacement ranges from $5,000 to $20,000. The total cost largely depends on the pack, size and manufacturer of the battery.
Most manufacturers have a five to eight-year warranty on their battery. However, the current prediction is that an electric car battery will last from 10 – 20 years before they need to be replaced.
Electric-powered cars are not on the road to a renewable and clean future. They are powered by lithium-ion batteries that will pose a real threat to the environment if continued to be manufactured at the rate of current gasoline-powered cars.
From battery issues to software and electronic problems, there are a variety of potential problems that are arising with electric vehicles. In a survey by consumer testing site Which, it was found EVs are the least reliable fuel type and spend longer off the road than other cars when they need repairs.
According to ACEP, the most concerning EV issues during extremely cold weather are significant range reduction, longer charging times, less power availability, and the need to keep the battery plugged during extended freezing weather.
Tesla's Dog Mode is a climate control setting that allows the driver to keep the vehicle's interior temperature in a comfortable range while the vehicle is in park. This allows the driver to leave the vehicle for a short amount of time while their four-legged friend is safely sitting inside the cabin.
Can I sit in my Tesla while supercharging? You can remain seated in your vehicle while it is charging at a Tesla Supercharging station.
Extra water produced by the dehumidifying process is drained underneath. To reduce the temperature in the cabin in hot weather conditions, the fan may turn on to vent the cabin when the vehicle is parked. This occurs only if the battery's charge level is above 20%.