In the first decade of the 21st century, with the increasing awareness of environmental protection and the increasingly severe threat of global warming, new energy vehicles are regarded as a replacement for traditional fuel vehicles. Electric vehicles, in particular, have been warmly welcomed by the global market for their zero-emission advantages. The performance of electric vehicles in extreme weather conditions, especially during the cold winter months, is always a big challenge for technology and market adoption. Battery efficiency has dropped dramatically due to low temperatures, the range has shrunk, and the charging speed has slowed down, which has gradually become a bottleneck restricting the development of electric vehicles.
In a harsh winter in 2023, the small northern city ushered in extremely low temperatures not seen in decades, and the temperature continued to hover around minus 40 degrees. In such a severe cold, the performance of electric vehicles has become a hot topic after dinner.
Lao Zhang is the stationmaster of an electric vehicle charging station in the north of the city. Early one morning, he arrived at the charging station early, ready to service the few vehicles left over from the previous night that needed to be recharged. The cold wind was cold, he wrapped his coat tightly and walked quickly to the charging pile.
"Jingle bell", the phone rang, it was a call from frequent customer Xiao Li. "Brother Zhang, why haven't I finished charging last night? I'm going to use the car soon. ”
Lao Zhang checked the charging status and responded in a deep voice: "Xiao Li, you know, the battery charging efficiency is low in this weather, and the speed will be much slower, give me some more time." ”
Xiao Li sighed helplessly, "This day, electric cars are really a headache." ”
Just as Lao Zhang and Xiao Li were on the phone, Lao Liu, a new electric car owner, walked into the charging station. Lao Liu looked a little anxious: "Stationmaster Zhang, I charged it overnight last night, why was my car only charged 30%?" ”
Lao Zhang patiently explained: "Lao Liu, the battery is like being frozen in the cold weather, and the activity is not as good as before. Current technology can't fully solve this problem. ”
Lao Liu frowned: "Then what should I do with my itinerary today?" ”
"It may have to be adjusted." Lao Zhang looked at Lao Liu sympathetically.
At this time, on the other side of the charging station, two car owners were talking.
"I've heard that some high-tech batteries are now being developed, such as solid-state batteries, which should perform better at low temperatures." One car owner said.
Another owner shook his head: "That's still early, we can only minimize unnecessary outings now, or choose more reliable alternatives." ”
Lao Zhang was listening, with mixed feelings in his heart. He looked at these car owners who were helpless due to technical limitations, and knew that this was not only their problem, but also a challenge for the entire industry.
As winter progresses, the problem gets worse. Dissatisfied with car owners is rising, and Lao Zhang's charging station is also facing an unprecedented test - the rise in electricity bills and the decline in charging efficiency have forced him to reconsider the sustainability of his business.
As time passed, Lao Zhang began to find that even in such low temperatures, there were still some models that performed well. Through communication with the owner and his own observation, Lao Zhang concluded that these vehicles have adopted some new insulation technology, or the owner has carried out some innovative modifications.
On the eve of the Spring Festival, Lao Zhang decided to organize a small exchange meeting of car owners. He invited electric car owners who have performed better in the cold winter to share their experiences. The meeting was held in a hut at the charging station, which was fully heated and hot tea was circulated, and the atmosphere was lively.
An experienced car owner, Mr. Wang, shared his retrofitting experience: "I installed an insulation layer on the outside of the battery pack and started the battery heating system regularly, which really improved the battery life problem. ”
Another young car owner shared his experience of using a power bank as an emergency measure: "It's not a long-term solution, but at least it can help a lot in an emergency. ”
After the meeting, Lao Zhang felt that he had gained a lot, and he began to set up a small "winter electric vehicle maintenance" information board in the charging station, which was plastered with tips and modification suggestions from car owners.
As winter comes to an end, temperatures are gradually rising. Lao Zhang found that although the past season was extremely challenging, through the communication and cooperation between car owners, they jointly found a variety of ways to cope with the cold. The charging station is no longer just a simple charging point, but a community for information exchange and technology sharing.
Although the cold winter is cruel, it has also taught us the importance of finding a way out of difficult situations. The road to electric vehicles is full of challenges, and every winter may be a test, but it is these successive tests that drive technological progress and community unity. Just as the vegetation can only usher in the lushness of spring after a cold winter, the electric vehicle industry will also move towards a more mature and perfect future through continuous efforts and innovation. In this process, everyone's efforts should not be overlooked, and it is these small rays of light that converge into the power to dispel the cold winter.