Driving and Charging an EV in Hot Weather

Is driving a fleet EV in hot weather safe?

The short answer is yes! EVs have been designed for use around the world, so they have a very wide operational temperature window. Even though fleet EVs will likely do more miles than a privately owned car, they should still be completely usable regarless of the temperature.

That said, the hot weather will impact things like range and efficiency, and there are things that fleet operators can do to maximise safety and efficiency when their vehicles are being driven and charged hot weather.

How does hot weather affect EV range?

During the summer months, an EV’s range can be affected by the high temperatures, and you may see this in your fleet data.

While an overheated battery can reduce an EV’s range, it’s not the primary cause except in extreme heat. Instead, it’s often the extra things like running the AC or driving with the windows open that have the larger effect on range and how often the vehicle needs recharging.

There are several things that fleet managers and drivers can do to help improve an EV’s range in the hot weather, saving both money and time. This includes training your drivers to drive gently, avoiding accelerating and braking harshly, using the air conditioning mindfully, and driving in ‘eco’ mode if your EV models have it. Where possible, ensure that your drivers keep the windows shut and only carry essential weight.

Check out our recent blog that explains how EV fleet operators can plan and implement a resilient fleet charging strategy.

Check your tyres before travelling

This is an essential part of driving an EV, no matter the weather conditions. Under or overinflated tyres can affect tyre grip, braking and rolling distance, tyre lifespan and charge consumption. For organisations with multiple vehicles, these small changes can compound over the entire fleet and cause a measurable reduction in efficiency, and an increase in costs.

However, in hotter weather, these dangers are exacerbated. On an average day, friction and resistance result in a build-up of heat inside car tyres, but hotter weather increases pressure. Every 10°C rise or fall in temperature affects a tyre’s pressure by between 1 and 2 PSI (pound-force per square inch).

Your fleet EVs may have a built-in tyre pressure monitoring systems, which will warn the driver if the pressure is too low. You should also ensure your drivers know how to manually check the tyre pressure to make sure they drive safely during these hotter months. All tyres are different and have an ideal pressure window, but the markings on the sidewall will contain all the relevant information.

Charging your EV in hot weather?

Lithium-ion batteries perform best between 20-25°C, whilst higher temperatures can result in decreased range and may lead to battery damage. However, many people drive and charge EVs in hot locations, such as Southern California, continental Europe, and South and East Asia, with few issues.

Optimise battery and charging performance

Charging an EV naturally puts strain on the battery, and it’s recommended to avoid doing so in the extreme heat where possible. However, we understand that fleet operators often can’t avoid driving during the working day and may have limited options on where to park. That said, there are things that you can do to mitigate this.

For example, planning your routes and charging schedules effectively can help to avoid the need for charging during the hottest times of the day (typically between 12:00 and 14:00). For example, if you can charge your vehicles overnight, this can help protect the battery.

Similarly, you could install sun shades at your depot or fleet charging station, which can may help during charging and loading/unloading periods. Also, keeping the cars cooler when they’re not in use can mean that the driver doesn’t need to use the air conditioning as much. Lastly, these sun shades can also provide the ideal structure to install solar panels to further reduce the costs of charging your fleet EVs.