Ford is confident that its forthcoming electric car will be ready for all weathers as it reveals that it is to fit an advanced liquid cooling an heating system into its Focus electric model, which set to go on sale late in 2011.
The system will be used to regulate the temperature of the car’s lithium-ion batteries to maximise performance and keep the battery warm when the car is parked in cold conditions.
“Batteries are similar to people as they both achieve maximum performance working under moderate, unchanged temperatures,” said Sherif Marakby, Ford director of Electrification Programs and Engineering. “Using a liquid-heated battery system allows Ford to keep the Focus Electric’s battery at a moderate temperature and improve performance whether you are charging or driving in a cold climate.”
Extreme temperatures affect battery performance and can reduce the range of electric vehicles. A liquid-heated system has been found to be more affective at combating these problems, compared to an air system. That’s why the US car maker is to use an active liquid-cooling and heating system to regulate the temperature of the battery packs, which work best under ambient conditions. Ford hopes that this system will give its first EV the edge over other electric vehicles such as the Nissan Leaf, which does not such system.
The use of active liquid heating will also enables owners of Focus Electric to automatically precondition battery pack temperature during daily recharging. While the vehicle is plugged in to the power grid, the vehicle system will be able to warm up the battery on cold days.
“Even when you’re parking in cold temperatures, as long as the vehicle is plugged in, you will warm up the battery,” explained Marakby. “Basically, customers will have the capability they need right off the bat. They won’t have to wait for the car to warm up.”
On cold days, heated liquid warms the batteries, gradually bringing the system’s temperature to a level that allows it to efficiently accept charge energy and provide enough discharge power to get good vehicle performance.
“Focus Electric wasn’t built just for consumers in warm cities with consistent temperatures,” said Marakby. “We want our customers to know they can count on their electric vehicle whether they live in a cold or warm climate.”
