The temperatures in Switzerland have been above 30 degrees Celsius for several days. Most people still underestimate that it can become extremely hot and critical for humans and animals in a car within minutes under the scorching sun. If a car is left in the blazing sun, it can heat up to 50 degrees within minutes and up to 80 degrees after an hour. Fluctuations in outside temperature and changing sunlight can further heat a vehicle. Staying in a car becomes dangerous at 40 degrees Celsius.
Coverings help
Various TCS tests have shown that parking in the shade, along with windshield coverings, have a positive effect on the measured temperatures inside a car. Vehicles that stood for an hour without sun protection film reached 77 degrees Celsius on the dashboard, while those with sun protection film were up to 40 degrees cooler.
Contrary to popular belief that the color of a car’s paint greatly influences the interior temperature, tests showed that the difference is minimal. Dark cars heat up faster than light ones in the first 20 minutes, but the end temperature only differs by a few degrees Celsius. Entire covers further reduce the temperature inside the car by a few more degrees.
Slightly open windows, on the other hand, fail to provide the expected cooling effect. In a 30-minute test period, only a 2-degree Celsius difference in interior temperature was measured. While driving, however, fully opening the windows when starting out helps significantly reduce the interior temperature.
Effects on batteries
E-bikes should not be left in the scorching sun for extended periods, as the electronics could be damaged. In general, extreme temperatures negatively affect battery lifespan in the long term.
For electric vehicle batteries, however, high temperatures do not pose a safety risk because the batteries are never exposed to direct sunlight under the chassis. A running air conditioner significantly reduces the range of electric vehicles. However, in the summer heat, e-vehicles have a major advantage: While at the charging station, the interior can be pre-cooled to comfortable temperatures before starting.
Do not leave humans and animals in cars
Reports often emerge about children and animals being forgotten in cars. Most people underestimate that it can become extremely hot and life- threatening for humans and animals within minutes in a burning sun. Avoid staying in closed, uncooled, and direct sunlight-exposed vehicles. Children and animals should not be left inside the vehicle even for short stops.
Be cautious about burns
The car's exterior, dashboard, and seats can become so hot that touching them can cause burns. Therefore, caution is advised when entering and touching seats, the steering wheel, gear lever, or other interior components. Burns and other skin injuries can occur at 45 degrees within seconds. Before entering, it is recommended to quickly ventilate the interior by opening the rear and side doors to let out the hot air.