Operating a car battery at high temperatures requires a special approach. Although many consider winter cold to be the main risk, from a technical point of view, heat often causes no less damage to the battery, and often even more lasting damage.
High air temperature and heating of the engine compartment accelerate electrochemical reactions, increase gas emission, cause loss of water from the electrolyte, increase corrosion activity and the risk of chronic overcharging. All this leads to accelerated battery aging.
It is important for service organizations, fleets, and private owners to understand that in hot climates, battery life depends not only on its characteristics, but also on the correct selection, the state of the charging system, the actual load on the on-board network, and compliance with maintenance regulations. EDCON considers high-temperature operation as a separate engineering scenario, in which the quality of materials, structural stability, and battery compliance with real-world operating conditions are especially important.
Why is high temperature dangerous for the battery?
A lead-acid battery is sensitive to temperature. When heated, the internal resistance decreases and charge reception temporarily improves, but at the same time the processes that shorten the service life are accelerated.
In hot climates, the following occur faster:
- corrosion of positive grids;
- gas emission;
- loss of water from the electrolyte;
- destruction of the active mass of the plates;
- thermal overload;
- Increased sensitivity to unstable charging voltage;
- accumulation of irreversible internal changes.
At the same time, the actual temperature of the battery is often noticeably higher than the outside temperature. If it is +35 °C outside, it can be significantly higher under the hood, especially in traffic jams, in the urban cycle and after the engine stops. In such conditions, aging accelerates significantly.
From an engineering point of view, high temperature is not a one—time stress, but a constant factor that accelerates not only working, but also parasitic reactions inside the battery.
WHAT ARE THE MAIN RISKS OF OPERATING IN A HOT CLIMATE?
The main operational risks of lead-acid batteries in conditions of high ambient temperature are caused by the intensification of heat and mass transfer processes, as well as the acceleration of side electrochemical reactions. One of the key degradation factors is the increased loss of water from the electrolyte. At high temperatures and increased charging voltage, the rate of water electrolysis increases, accompanied by the release of hydrogen and oxygen. This results in an increase in electrolyte density, a decrease in heat sink efficiency, partial exposure of the plates, the formation of local overheating zones, accelerated degradation of the active mass of the electrodes, and an irreversible decrease in the actual battery capacity. For sealed and unattended batteries, this mechanism is especially critical due to the lack of operational monitoring and electrolyte level correction.
A significant factor in the accelerated aging of batteries in hot climates is the corrosion destruction of the protective grilles. Elevated temperatures significantly accelerate the course of corrosion processes, which in the early stages may not manifest themselves as obvious external signs. As corrosion develops, the mechanical strength of the grid decreases, the geometric stability of the current-carrying structure is disrupted, electrical contact with the active mass deteriorates, the internal resistance of the battery increases and its ability to provide the required starting current decreases. As a result, the probability of a hidden failure increases, which is not detected by assessing the no-load voltage alone, which requires the use of load diagnostic methods.
A separate danger in hot climates is the operation of the battery in overcharging and thermal overload mode. The reasons for this mode may be a malfunction of the voltage regulator, the absence or incorrect implementation of temperature compensation of the charging voltage, unstable operating parameters of the generator set, the use of chargers with unsuitable characteristics, as well as an increased temperature in the engine compartment. These factors lead to an intensification of gas emission, accelerated water loss, an increase in the temperature of the housing and internal elements, an acceleration of corrosion processes, the destruction of the active mass and an overall reduction in battery life. Even a slight excess of the standard charging voltage in high temperature conditions can significantly accelerate battery degradation.
The adverse effect of high temperature is manifested not only during the movement of the vehicle, but also during its prolonged downtime or storage. When the car is placed under direct sunlight or in a poorly ventilated room, the battery undergoes accelerated calendar aging even in the absence of a pronounced operational load. Under these conditions, the rate of self-discharge, the intensity of parasitic electrochemical processes, the rate of water loss, and the likelihood of sulfation with a decrease in the degree of charge increase. The presence of permanent power consumers, including security systems, telematics modules, energy-independent memory of electronic components and keyless entry systems, further worsens the energy balance and increases the risk of degradation.
The combined effects of vibration and thermal loads are also significant risk factors, especially for commercial vehicles, off-road vehicles, pickups, and vehicles operating on poorly paved roads. Vibration contributes to a violation of the structural stability of the plates, shedding of the active mass, a decrease in the reliability of interelement and internal connections, as well as a deterioration in the quality of current collection. At elevated temperatures, the mechanical resistance of structural and active materials is further reduced, as a result of which the cumulative aging rate of the battery increases.
An additional operational factor is an increase in the electrical load from the standard on-board equipment of a modern car. In hot climates, the energy consumption of air conditioning systems, cooling fans, climate control, pumps, actuators, and electronic control modules increases. When operating in the mode of short trips, traffic jams and prolonged operation of the engine at idle, the charging balance deteriorates, as a result of which the battery operates for a significant part of the time in the mode of incomplete charge recovery. Working in conditions of chronic partial charge additionally accelerates degradation processes and reduces battery life.
EDCON’S APPROACH TO BATTERY OPERATION IN HOT CLIMATES
EDCON considers the battery as an important part of the vehicle’s energy system. In hot climates, small deviations in the quality of materials, construction, or mode of use can significantly reduce battery life.
The EDCON approach is based on:
- ensuring the stability of electrochemical characteristics;
- continuous monitoring of production parameters;
- unwavering attention to the resource of the lattice structure;
- guarantees of structural stability to real loads;
- full compliance with the requirements of modern cars;
- mandatory support for professional selection and diagnostics.
For EDCON, it is important that the battery is reliable not only in laboratory conditions, but also in real-world operation: in traffic jams, at high temperatures, increased load on the on-board network and prolonged intensive work.
A hot climate is a serious factor in the accelerated aging of an automobile battery. The main risks are not associated with instant loss of performance, but with the gradual accumulation of irreversible changes: loss of water, corrosion of positive grids, destruction of active mass, accelerated self-discharge, overcharging and chronic partial charge.
The reliability of a battery in hot regions is determined not by one parameter, but by a combination of factors: the quality of the battery itself, the correct selection, the serviceability of the charging system, the operating mode and the regularity of technical control.
That is why battery operation in hot climates requires a professional approach. Regular diagnostics, monitoring of the charging voltage, consideration of the actual electrical load and the use of a high-quality EDCON battery can significantly reduce the risk of premature failure.
