Need for speed: EVs must warm up before fast charging

Battery temperature impacts not only how far an electric vehicle (EV) can drive, but also how quickly and safely it charges. Staying within the right temperature range is crucial to avoid long waits at the charging station and long-term damage to the battery.

There are now a variety of different charging speeds available depending on whether the vehicle is plugged in overnight or topped up over a long trip. A 7kW wall box will slowly replenish energy during the day or overnight, while 50kW rapid chargers can keep waiting times down to around half an hour. Top end 150kW ultra-fast chargers can pack in around 100 miles of range in just ten minutes.

But faster charging puts a