Extreme Temperature Performance: PHEVs vs. Pure EVs
Both Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs) and pure Electric Vehicles (EVs) can be affected by extreme temperatures, but in different ways.
Hot Weather
- PHEVs and EVs: High temperatures can cause battery performance degradation, reducing the driving range and efficiency of both PHEVs and EVs. Batteries in both types of vehicles can overheat, accelerating chemical reactions and increasing wear on lithium-ion batteries. Thermal management systems help mitigate these effects but may not fully prevent reduced performance.
- EVs: In temperatures above 90°F, EVs may retain only 95% of their range, with noticeable losses above that temperature. Some EVs might lose up to 17% of their range in very hot conditions.
- PHEVs: PHEVs benefit from their hybrid design, which allows them to switch to gasoline power under extreme conditions. This can provide additional flexibility in maintaining performance, though their electric components still face similar heat-related challenges as EVs.
Cold Weather
- PHEVs and EVs: Both types of vehicles experience reduced efficiency and range in cold temperatures. However, PHEVs have an advantage because they can use their internal combustion engine to maintain warm temperatures and improve performance when needed. Pure EVs may lose up to 40% of their range in freezing conditions due to the increased energy needed to heat the vehicle.
In summary, while both PHEVs and EVs are affected by extreme temperatures, PHEVs offer flexibility with their hybrid design, potentially mitigating some of the impacts of cold weather but still facing similar challenges in hot conditions.
Original article by NenPower, If reposted, please credit the source: https://nenpower.com/blog/how-do-phevs-perform-in-extreme-temperatures-compared-to-pure-evs/
