How Important are Electric PTC Heaters to
Battery Temperature Control?
Electric heaters are very important for the temperature control of electric vehicle batteries, which is mainly reflected in the following aspects:
Guarantee battery performance
Improve charging and discharging efficiency: When the battery works at a suitable temperature, the electrochemical reaction can proceed smoothly and quickly. When charging, lithium ions can be efficiently embedded and extracted between the positive and negative electrodes, which increases the charging speed; when discharging, it can also ensure stable output of large current and improve the vehicle's power performance. For example, the discharge capacity of lithium iron phosphate batteries will be greatly attenuated at low temperatures, but after preheating with electric heaters, its discharge capacity can be significantly restored.
Maintain battery power output: Low temperature will increase the internal resistance of the battery, reduce the output power, and make the vehicle accelerate weakly. Electric heaters can keep the battery in a suitable temperature range to ensure that the vehicle has sufficient power output under various working conditions.
Extend battery life
Reduce low temperature damage: Working in a low temperature environment for a long time, the active substances inside the battery will be damaged, and aging will be accelerated. Electric heaters can prevent batteries from excessive discharge or charging due to low temperatures, reduce irreversible capacity loss, delay battery capacity decay, and reduce replacement costs.
Avoid high temperature overheating: The electric heater is equipped with a thermal management system to stop heating and start heat dissipation when the battery temperature is too high, ensuring that the battery is always in a safe temperature range, preventing dangers such as battery bulging and fire caused by high temperature, and extending the battery life.
Enhance vehicle safety
Prevent thermal runaway: When the battery temperature is too low, the internal electrochemical reaction is insufficient, which may cause abnormal phenomena such as local overheating and cause thermal runaway. The electric heater keeps the battery temperature in a reasonable range and reduces the risk of internal reaction runaway.
Ensure system stability: Stable battery temperature helps the battery management system to accurately monitor and control the battery status, detect and handle potential faults in time, and ensure the vehicle's safe operation.
Improve vehicle range
Optimize battery energy conversion: When the battery works at the optimal temperature, the energy conversion efficiency is higher, and the unit power can provide a longer range.
Reduce the impact of temperature on range: Low temperatures in winter will significantly reduce the available capacity of the battery. Electric heaters can reduce the negative impact of low temperatures on battery capacity and, to a certain extent, alleviate the problem of shortened range of electric vehicles in winter.
Improve vehicle adaptability
Adapt to different ambient temperatures: The ambient temperature of electric vehicles varies greatly. Electric heaters can enable vehicles to start and drive normally in extremely cold areas, expanding the scope of use of electric vehicles.
Cooperate with charging facilities: In low-temperature environments, even if the charging pile does not have a preheating function, the electric heater can raise the battery temperature to an appropriate range in advance to ensure the feasibility and safety of fast charging.
