Posted on 4/20/2022
Understanding your High Voltage (HV) Battery: Battery Type and Cooling System The first High Voltage or HV, direct current batteries used in Hybrids for mass production were Nickel Metal Hydride or NiMH batteries. As Hybrids and EVs evolved Lithium-Ion batteries became the standard allowing for extended range and increased electromotive force more commonly known as voltage. The trade-off of a larger battery is the need to cool the battery and mitigate the increased weight on the front suspension of the vehicle. Cooling the battery is paramount especially in South Florida and each brand has it's own system ranging from natural cooling used in Nissan Leaf, the use of a blower fan in the Prius and Ford Fusion models, liquid coolant for the Chevy Volt battery which is mounted under the vehicle and the unique design of the BMW i3 which uses a refrigerated, yes the same refrigerant used for the AC system, to keep the battery cool. A Tesla High Voltage ... read more