How Synergetic is a Siesta for an Electric Sedan

Lead-acid batteries were tested at the National Battery Test Laboratory at Argonne National Laboratory to determine the effects on the range of an electric vehicle of rest periods introduced during the vehicle use. Rest periods ranging from zero through four hours were chosen to simulate no break, a coffee break, a lunch break, and a work break. Preliminary results suggest that no increase in range can be expected as a result of the rest periods regardless of their length; moreover, it appears that in some cases a slight loss in battery capacity, and therefore in range, may occur as the battery cools during the rest period. Similar testing of the nickel/iron battery system is now underway.