If electric cars viewed by many, rightly or wrongly, as one of the mitigation solutions global warming, they must also suffer the consequences. This is what is happening today in China, which has become a victim of powerful heat. In Sichuan province, the power grid has been largely disrupted by high temperatures and a drop in hydroelectric reservoirs. As a result, the local government asked terminal operators, including Tesla as well as Nio, to stop providing services.
Tesla, Nio suspend EV charging services due to China’s blackouts https://t.co/MfE2sdtDEf pic.twitter.com/4qCHd3DsqG
— Automotive News (@Automotive_News) August 24, 2022
Thus, about fifteen Tesla charging stations and several for Nio are not working. Alone two Tesla superchargers open, and only at night. Teld New Energy, a leading provider of charging stations in China, advised its users to check the station status before visiting charging stations as they may be closed.
A similar problem in France in the future?
Could we see a similar scenario in France in the next few years? We have seen it this year, global warming already catastrophic consequences in the country From wildfires to widespread drought, France cannot avoid increasingly difficult climate conditions in the summer. And as European governments push for widespread adoption of electric vehicles, are we headed for giant charging station blackouts like in China? Then it would be difficult to imagine the consequences.
Air conditioning challenges China’s infrastructure
The first element of the answer is that the situation in China is very country specific. Indeed, China, and in particular the Sichuan region that has been affected in recent weeks, receives a large part of its electricity generation from hydroelectric power station. Dams work well in France, but they account for only a small part of electricity production.
On the other hand, gridlock in China also comes from the general use of air conditioners, which is not the case (yet) in France. However, not at all. The mass introduction of the electric car will create energy tension. High-speed terminals (for example, on a motorway) must already regulate the incoming charging power according to certain conditions. I hope that then at least the infrastructure will develop as fast as shipping electric cars
Source: Automotive News
Source: Auto Plus
Robert is an experienced journalist who has been covering the automobile industry for over a decade. He has a deep understanding of the latest technologies and trends in the industry and is known for his thorough and in-depth reporting.