The current high temperatures quickly lead to heat in the car, which can be life-threatening for people and animals. The TCS gives tips on how to protect yourself from the high temperatures in the car.
Editorial - September 7, 2024
A vehicle with a windshield cover can significantly reduce the interior temperature in hot weather.
Danger from high temperatures in the car
Most people underestimate that it can become extremely hot and critical for people and animals after just a few minutes in a car in the scorching sun. If you leave a car in the blazing sun, it can heat up to 50 degrees after just a few minutes, and after an hour temperatures can even reach 80 degrees. Fluctuations in outside temperature and changing solar radiation can also heat up a vehicle. Staying in the car becomes dangerous above 40 degrees Celsius.
A windshield cover helps
Various TCS tests have shown that, in addition to parking in the shade, windshield covers in particular have a positive influence on the temperatures measured in the car. For example, 77 degrees Celsius were measured on the dashboard of vehicles parked in the sun for an hour without sun protection film, while the temperature was up to 40 degrees lower in vehicles with sun protection film. Contrary to popular belief that the paint color of the car has a major influence on the interior temperature, tests have shown that the difference in this respect is only minimal. Although dark cars heat up faster than light-colored cars in the first 20 minutes, the final temperature only differs by a few degrees Celsius.
Slightly open windows miss the mark
Slightly open windows do not have the desired cooling effect. In the test, a difference in interior temperature of just 2 degrees Celsius was measured over a period of 30 minutes. On the other hand, opening the windows fully when driving off helps to significantly reduce the temperature inside the car. However, the difference between an air-conditioned interior and the outside temperature should not exceed six degrees. Larger temperature differences can put a strain on the body and also lead to a cold.
Do not leave people and animals in the car
Time and again we hear reports of children and animals being left in the car. Most people underestimate the fact that it can become extremely hot and life-threatening for people and animals after just a few minutes in a car in direct sunlight. Stays in closed, uncooled vehicles that are exposed to direct sunlight should be avoided. Children and animals should not be left inside the vehicle, even for short stops.
Effects on the vehicle
The outer shell, dashboard and seats can become so hot that you can get burns simply by touching the surfaces. Care should therefore be taken when getting into the car and touching the seats, steering wheel, gear lever or other interior components. Burns and other skin injuries can occur within a few seconds from a temperature of 45 degrees. Before getting in, it is therefore advisable to briefly ventilate the vehicle interior by opening the rear wing and the side doors to allow the hot air to escape.
Technical precautions
It is advisable to check the oil and coolant levels regularly, especially in summer, otherwise the engine may overheat. If the engine light comes on, you should stop as soon as possible and call the breakdown service. A few extra kilometers are often enough to cause engine damage, which can lead to high costs. Before longer vacation trips, it is therefore advisable to carry out a basic check in the garage so that you don't get into a breakdown situation in the first place.
Special features of electric vehicles
The high temperatures pose no safety risk for the batteries of electric vehicles, as the batteries in the underbody are never exposed to direct sunlight. However, running the air conditioning system considerably reduces the range of electric vehicles. In this respect, however, electric vehicles have a major advantage in the summer heat: if they are parked at the charging station, the interior can be cooled down to a comfortable temperature by means of pre-air conditioning before the vehicle is started.
