{"id":3758,"date":"2025-06-04T17:14:30","date_gmt":"2025-06-04T17:14:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/pyrotechbei.com\/2025\/06\/04\/100-electric-cars-the-high-voltage-battery\/"},"modified":"2025-08-28T17:58:07","modified_gmt":"2025-08-28T17:58:07","slug":"100-electric-cars-the-high-voltage-battery","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pyrotechbei.com\/en\/2025\/06\/04\/100-electric-cars-the-high-voltage-battery\/","title":{"rendered":"100% Electric Cars: the High-Voltage Battery"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Did you know that in 1832, the first 100% electric vehicle was commercialized? However, it’s really only since 2011 that they have been seen more regularly on Quebec roads. Furthermore, in 2021, we surpassed the 100,000 electric vehicles mark on our roads, and projections indicate more than 1.5 million electric vehicles by 2030. To add to this rapid growth of this “new” type of vehicle, it’s also worth noting that as early as 2035, the sale of new gasoline-powered cars will be prohibited in Canada. <\/p>\n\n

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With the increasingly significant addition of electric vehicles on our roads, certain concerns and questions are emerging.<\/p>\n\n

As users, what can we do to keep the high-voltage battery in good condition and minimize its loss of range?<\/p>\n\n

Ever since batteries of all types have existed, heat has been the number one public enemy of batteries! In fact, the various automotive battery manufacturers are constantly improving the internal temperature management of batteries to increase vehicle performance and range, and simultaneously avoid situations of overheating or even thermal runaway and fire in extreme cases.<\/p>\n\n

The temperature inside a high-voltage battery compartment naturally increases with ambient temperature, but also during charging and discharging. Furthermore, current electric vehicle users observe that charging speed continuously varies when they charge their vehicle using a Level 3 charging station (high voltage DC). In fact, the battery’s internal management system, in communication with the charger, allows for adjusting the charging current intensity when the internal temperature of the battery compartment is either too low or too high. Recently, we have also observed that some manufacturers even go so far as to limit motor power when the internal temperature of the batteries is too low, specifically to prevent heating problems.<\/p>\n\n

So, what are the best practices for an electric vehicle user? In general, you should:<\/p>\n\n

    \n
  1. Avoid continuously charging the vehicle to 100%, unless you are ready to use it for a planned longer distance. Generally, aim for a maximum charge between 80% and 90%.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Do not let the range drop unnecessarily below 20%. In fact, if the range drops to 0% or very close to 0%, it is likely that you will no longer be able to charge it or will only succeed with the help of your dealer or a tow truck. Furthermore, some manufacturers will not allow the vehicle to be recharged if it has completely discharged.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Do not charge the vehicle unnecessarily after every use. A battery needs to “work” to maintain its efficiency.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. For long-term storage, charge the vehicle to around 90% and adjust the charge after 3 months. You should also consult your vehicle manufacturer’s recommendations.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. In extreme temperatures (-35 \u00b0C or lower), plug your vehicle into the charger (Level 1 or 2) so that the internal temperature management system can warm up the high-voltage battery prior to vehicle use.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  6. Do not use Level 3 chargers on a regular basis as they increase the internal temperature much faster than a simple Level 2 charger (240 VAC) or Level 1 charger (120 VAC). Consequently, frequent and regular use of this type of fast charger could accelerate the loss of range or the aging of your batteries.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n

    Are you concerned about battery life? Be aware that they are usually guaranteed for 8 years\/160,000 km[1]<\/a><\/sup>. Also be aware that an annual degradation percentage is natural and normal for battery cells. However, the manufacturer’s warranties will only apply if the loss of range exceeds a percentage established by the manufacturer (around 30% generally)[2]<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n\n

    Finally, are you concerned about the fire risks of your electric vehicle? It is true that among the various cases of electric car fires, some have been spectacular! However, gasoline vehicle fires, often less spectacular, have always existed and are relatively frequent, but they receive much less media attention. In fact, according to recent American statistics, you are 60 times[3]<\/a><\/sup> more likely (unlikely) to experience a fire in a gasoline vehicle rather than a 100% electric one. Fires of electrical origin are therefore not a new reality exclusive to electric cars. Electricity is an incredible and spectacular energy source, but unforgiving if not handled carefully. Good user practices combined with constant technological evolution surrounding high-voltage batteries will definitely mitigate the risk of overheating and premature loss of range!<\/p>\n\n

    by Ga\u00ebtan Beaumont<\/a>, Eng. MBA, CFEIMechanical Engineering | Equipment | Vehicles | Industrial Systems<\/em><\/p>\n\n

    \n\n

    [1]<\/a><\/sup> Some manufacturers even offer 8 years \/ 192,000 km.<\/p>\n\n

    [2]<\/a><\/sup> The manufacturer’s manual or other sources of information can provide you with the details.<\/p>\n\n

    [3]<\/a><\/sup> 25 per 100,000 electric vehicles vs 1,529 per 100,000 internal combustion engine vehicles.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Did you know that in 1832, the first 100% electric vehicle was commercialized? However, it’s really only since 2011 that they have been seen more regularly on Quebec roads. Furthermore, in 2021, we surpassed the 100,000 electric vehicles mark on our roads, and projections indicate more than 1.5 million electric vehicles by 2030. To add […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2325,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[55,57],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3758","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-case-study","category-mechanical-engineering"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pyrotechbei.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3758","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pyrotechbei.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pyrotechbei.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pyrotechbei.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pyrotechbei.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3758"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/pyrotechbei.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3758\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3759,"href":"https:\/\/pyrotechbei.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3758\/revisions\/3759"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pyrotechbei.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2325"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pyrotechbei.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3758"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pyrotechbei.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3758"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pyrotechbei.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3758"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}