.jpeg "Flickr.com source") |
| Flickr.com source |
The rapid depletion of car batteries has become a growing concern in the automotive world, particularly as electric vehicles (EVs) continue to gain popularity. Despite advances in battery technology, many drivers still face the challenge of short battery life, leading to frequent recharging and reduced driving efficiency. This issue not only affects electric vehicles but also impacts conventional cars with advanced electronic systems. Understanding the causes behind fast battery drain, such as excessive energy consumption from vehicle electronics, extreme weather conditions, or battery degradation over time, is crucial in finding solutions to enhance battery performance and longevity. This article explores the various factors contributing to the problem and examines potential remedies that could improve battery lifespan and overall vehicle reliability.
Battery Charging Complexities
This issue isn’t unique to Wyoming or Rivian vehicles. At public charging stations across the U.S. that promise speeds above 100 kW, the average actual charging rate was only 52 kW in 2022, according to Stable Auto, a company that helps charging networks decide where to build new infrastructure. This discrepancy largely reflects the complexities of electric car battery characteristics, leaving many U.S. drivers wondering why charging speeds are lower than expected and if they can anticipate such occurrences.
David Slutzky, CEO and founder of Fermata Energy, a startup focused on building vehicle-to-grid charging systems, explained that “the truth is, we still don’t have a fully integrated infrastructure that provides truly fast charging; most stations reduce the charging speed very quickly.”
There are several reasons why even the best public charging stations don’t operate at full capacity most of the time. Unlike filling up a fuel tank, charging electric car batteries involves complex chemistry. Numerous internal and external factors affect charging speed.
To begin with, electric cars can absorb electrons at a limited rate. Of the 55 electric models currently available in the U.S., half can charge at speeds above 200 kW, and only five models can charge at 350 kW.
Temperature Impacts on Charging
Additionally, these speeds are greatly affected by extreme temperatures, whether hot or cold, as lithium-ion batteries can suffer damage in such conditions. This prompts manufacturers to program their vehicles to reduce charging speed in these cases to protect the battery.
The situation becomes even more complex as the charging speed automatically slows down when the battery approaches full capacity to prevent overheating. (The same happens with smartphones and laptops.) The details of this process vary from one car to another, but manufacturers are often reluctant to share this information, even with buyers. For example, Tesla cars have relatively steep charging curves, meaning the “fast” part of the charging process doesn’t last long.
Lastly, charging networks also limit the flow of electrons while charging electric vehicles for various reasons. On hot days, for instance, the local grid may be under heavy strain due to extensive air conditioning use, or the charging plugs themselves may overheat. Many stations also rely on splitting power among multiple vehicles charging at the same time, allowing them to install more charging outlets with the same amount of available electricity. In other words, a 200 kW charger may drop to 100 kW if another charging outlet is in use at the same station. (The U.S. Department of Energy classifies charging outlets above 50 kW as “fast chargers.”)
Consumer Awareness Gap
Sarah Rafalson, executive director of policy at EVgo, said, “There’s a kind of complex interaction between the car and the charger, so I believe there’s a gap in consumer awareness regarding their expectations for charging their vehicles.”
This gap may hinder the adoption of electric vehicles in the U.S., especially since charging speed has become a key marketing metric. Automakers are eager to promote how quickly their cars can charge from 10% or 20% to 80%, while public charging stations display the maximum possible charging rate on the devices themselves, without mentioning the average or expected speed. According to a BloombergNEF report, 17% of public charging outlets in the U.S. are rated above 100 kW, compared to 10% in the U.K. and 2% in the Netherlands.
Anthony Lambkin, vice president of operations at Electrify America, which operates around 1,000 charging stations in the U.S., said: “There’s still a significant gap between customer expectations and what they actually experience when using charging stations, but the good news is there are a lot of new drivers, and this is just one of the things that take time to learn.”
However, consumers are feeling less optimistic. A study of 103,000 Tesla charging sessions found that the average charging speed was just 90 kW, less than half of the maximum possible speed, according to Recurrent Auto, a startup that tracks battery health. A recent JD Power survey found that public charging speeds received low ratings from electric vehicle owners, ranking among the bottom 10 categories studied.
Brent Gruber, executive director of electric vehicles at JD Power, noted that consumers form false expectations “when they see those kilowatt figures on the charging outlet itself.”
Bridging the Gap Between Expectations and Reality
Charging company executives acknowledge the need to ramp up efforts to educate consumers, especially those new to electric vehicles. Lambkin said, “The challenge remains,” but the technical aspect of this experience excites people, as they feel a thrill when they achieve the maximum possible charging speed.
While the complexities of charging mean the gap between expected and actual speeds will never entirely close, it’s expected to narrow in the near future. This will reduce the need to split power among multiple charging outlets. Since late 2022, all new stations built by Electrify America are capable of charging at speeds up to 350 kW, and some of these stations now feature 20 charging outlets.
Automakers have also realized that peak charging speed is a crucial factor for electric vehicle buyers, so they are working to enhance it in future models. Lambkin adds, “There will be technological advancements to match the growth in consumer knowledge and experience.”
Pre-Trip Preparation
For now, advance preparation remains the best way to deal with unpredictable charging speeds. Before Jacob Espinoza embarks on any car trip from his home in New Mexico, he relies on three key steps: entering his destination into a route-planning app, checking charging network apps, and reviewing user ratings for charging stations via PlugShare.
“When you follow these three steps, taking long trips in an electric car becomes very easy,” says Espinoza, who documents his electric vehicle journeys on YouTube.
In Rock Springs, when I neglected to follow the second and third steps Espinoza recommended, the result was unsatisfactory. After about 15 minutes of charging at 50 kW, we decided to cut our losses, leave, and head 100 miles north to the town of Pinedale, Wyoming, where we found two charging outlets behind Stockman’s Saloon and Steakhouse. Coincidentally, the Frontier Days festival was taking place in the city, so we took the opportunity to attend a folk music concert as part of the festival activities.
Although Pinedale’s charger offered a maximum charging speed of 120 kW, it was still faster than the 350 kW-promised charger in Rock Springs. It provided enough energy for the remaining 90-mile leg of the journey in just a few minutes. That moment truly embodied the spirit of Frontier Days.