강추위에 덜덜 떠는 전기차, 급속 충전기는 어디에? (2024.01.25/뉴스데스크/MBC)

MBCNEWS

25 Jan 202403:29

Summary

TLDRAs extreme cold grips Korea, electric vehicles are struggling with faster battery drainage and longer charging times. Researchers found battery capacity and charge/discharge times dropped 70% at -20°C. With fewer fast chargers per EV in Korea than the US and China, drivers are finding all stations occupied during cold snaps. As climate change brings more unexpected freezes, fast chargers are crucial to avoid stranded EVs. Korea must strategically invest in more fast charging stations to support the global EV transition and prepare for extreme weather.

Takeaways

😢 Extreme cold weather is causing issues for electric vehicles like faster battery drain and longer charging times.
😱 Batteries lose up to 70% of their capacity and take twice as long to charge in -15°C temperatures.
😠 Drivers need to charge EVs twice as often in cold weather.
🚘 There is a shortage of fast chargers compared to slow chargers at charging stations.
😫 Major cities like Seoul have high EV to fast charger ratios, indicating shortage.
😨 Faster chargers are critical to avoid being stranded in extreme cold.
😰 Texas froze when arctic air collapsed the polar vortex, trapping EVs.
😡 Global warming brings more unpredictable cold snaps.
❄️ Cold weather cripples EVs so more fast chargers are urgently needed.
😤 Government support and strategic investment in more chargers is critical for EV growth.

Q & A

Why are electric cars struggling in the cold weather?
-In cold temperatures, electric car batteries lose power more quickly, take longer to charge, and have reduced range. This is because the electrolytes in the batteries solidify in the cold, preventing ions from moving smoothly between the electrodes.
How much did the test battery capacity and charge/discharge times decrease at -20°C?
-The cylindrical batteries used in imported electric cars saw capacity and charge/discharge times decrease to around 70% at -20°C in the experiment.
What happens to lithium-ion mobility in cold temperatures?
-Lithium ions cannot move smoothly between the positive and negative electrodes when it is cold, reducing battery performance.
How does the cold weather affect electric car drivers?
-Drivers often need to charge their cars twice as often and spend more time charging in cold temperatures.
Why are fast chargers important in extreme cold?
-Fast chargers are critical for drivers with low batteries in frigid temperatures, as regular chargers take too long when battery performance is reduced.
How does the ratio of electric cars to fast chargers compare internationally?
-Korea has around 10% fast chargers, lower than the US (22%) and China (40%). Higher ratios indicate insufficient chargers.
What happened to electric cars during the Texas freeze?
-Many electric cars lost power and were stranded. Charging stations became jammed as drivers desperately needed to recharge.
Why could extreme cold spells become more common?
-Global warming can increase weather variability, leading to more unexpected and intense cold snaps.
Why should Korea expand its fast charging network?
-More fast chargers are needed to prepare for extreme weather and support growing electric vehicle adoption.
What needs to be done to support more electric cars?
-Strategic investment and policies by the government to rapidly expand the fast charging network are urgent.

Outlines

00:00

😨 Cold weather impacts electric car performance

Paragraph 1 discusses how cold weather negatively impacts electric car battery life and charging time. Electric cars take much longer to charge and drain faster in extreme cold. Lack of fast charging stations exacerbates the problem.

🥶 Experiments show batteries lose capacity in cold

Paragraph 2 describes experiments showing lithium-ion batteries rapidly losing capacity when exposed to -20°C temperatures. Cylindrical batteries like those in imported electric cars dropped to 70% capacity.

😫 Drivers confirm need for more charging

Paragraph 3 has interviews with electric car drivers confirming they need to charge more frequently in winter. Some need to stop driving to find a charging station.

⛽️ Fast chargers in high demand

Paragraph 4 points out fast chargers are in high demand as cars discharge on the road, while slow chargers sit empty. South Korea has far fewer fast chargers per car than the U.S. and China.

❄️ Lack of chargers worsens extreme cold

Paragraph 5 gives an example of charger shortage worsening an extreme cold snap in Texas. As jet stream collapsed, frozen electric cars piled up with no charging available.

🥶 More extreme cold expected globally

Paragraph 6 notes extreme cold is not just a U.S. issue. Experts expect more severe and unexpected cold due to climate change variability.

⚡️ Rapid expansion of chargers needed

Paragraph 7 concludes that fast charger expansion is urgently needed to prepare for extreme weather and support electric vehicle growth.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡electric cars

Electric cars are automobiles that run on electricity instead of gasoline. They rely on large rechargeable batteries to store the electricity that powers the motor. The news report focuses on how the extreme cold weather negatively impacts electric car batteries, reducing their capacity and lengthening charging times. For example, it states that in the frigid temperatures, electric car batteries took twice as long to charge.

💡battery performance

Battery performance refers to how well an electric vehicle's battery system operates. This includes metrics like capacity, charging speed, energy density, etc. The report examines how extremely cold temperatures can degrade battery performance in multiple ways. For instance, it shows that the capacity and charge/discharge times of a cylinder battery dropped to 70% of normal levels at -20°C.

💡rapid chargers

Rapid chargers, also called fast chargers, can charge an electric vehicle's battery much faster than regular chargers. However, rapid chargers are still scarce in South Korea, with only about 10% of all chargers being fast chargers. The report stresses the importance of rapidly expanding rapid chargers to meet demand, especially during harsh cold snaps when they are most needed.

💡range anxiety

Range anxiety refers to the fear electric vehicle drivers have of running out of battery charge before reaching their destination. The report indicates range anxiety intensifies in frigid temperatures as batteries drain faster, forcing drivers to stop more frequently to recharge. Having more rapid chargers would help alleviate range anxiety in cold weather.

💡polar vortex

A polar vortex is a swirling mass of cold air circulating in the upper atmosphere over the poles. The report references the polar vortex collapse in the US that brought arctic temperatures as far south as Texas. It suggests extreme cold snaps, partly driven by climate change, will become more common globally. This highlights the need to prepare electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

💡lithium-ion batteries

Lithium-ion batteries are the dominant battery technology used in electric vehicles today. However, the report explains that lithium ions have difficulty moving smoothly between the anode and cathode in very cold conditions. This lowers performance substantially until the battery warms up again.

💡battery chemistry

Battery chemistry refers to the specific chemical components and reactions within a battery that govern its operation. The report notes that cold temperatures can cause the battery chemicals or 'electrolytes' to solidify or 'freeze', preventing electricity from flowing properly and reducing performance.

💡climate change

Climate change is leading to increased weather variability and more frequent extreme weather events like severe cold spells. The report suggests preemptively expanding rapid chargers to prepare for unpredictable cold snaps resulting from global warming.

💡charging infrastructure

Charging infrastructure refers to the network of charging stations and connectors that allow electric vehicles to recharge their batteries. The report emphasizes the need to strategically invest in and upgrade charging infrastructure, especially fast chargers, to facilitate electric vehicle adoption.

💡energy density

Energy density measures how much energy a battery can store per unit volume. The report indicates battery energy density and capacity decline in cold temperatures as chemical reactions slow down. So the same battery stores less energy in the winter.

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