Chilling Truths: Exploring How Cold Weather Affects EV Batteries

As parts of the United States and Canada grappled with recent sub-zero temperatures last week, electric vehicle (EV) owners found themselves facing unexpected challenges when it came to charging their batteries. Cold weather can have a significant impact on the performance of EVs, and understanding the issues that may arise is crucial for a seamless driving experience during the winter.

Electric vehicle batteries, such as those in Tesla vehicles, function optimally within a specific temperature range to minimize cell degradation. Cell degradation results from side reactions like lithium plating and the growth of the solid electrolyte interface (SEI) layer, occurring parallel to the main graphite-lithium intercalation reaction. In cold weather, conditions for lithium plating are favorable, requiring lower charging rates. Tesla's battery management system regulates charging rates in low temperatures, preventing lithium plating but potentially extending charging times for owners.

This content is part of our expert analysis on battery characterization. To uncover more insights on electric vehicles and battery cell technology, we invite you to visit the TechInsights Platform (please note that some content is exclusive to subscribers only).