Heat Pumps

[eurotrotter]

Hi All,

Just looking to get some advice on heat pumps before making the plunge and ordering my next car, and need some help with the following questions:



Does it help with range in the summer?/ Will it help run the A/C more efficiently in summer?

Does it help with range in the colder months of the year, when simply running the ventilation to keep the windows clear?

Is a heat pump only of use in winter conditions?

Does a heat pump both heat (winter) and cool (summer) the traction battery when necessary, or does it just heat the battery in winter?



Many thanks!

[caziques]

An air conditioner is a heat pump.

Reversing an air conditioner turns it into a heater.

However, when used as a heater the "cold" part freezes up below (about) 7 degrees.

The freezing up part has to defrost on occasion, but overall they use much less power than a resistance heater - which in an EV means a greater range in winter.

[RobDickinson]

eurotrotter said:

Hi All,
Does it help with range in the summer?/ Will it help run the A/C more efficiently in summer?

No, it has no effect when not heating.

eurotrotter said:

Does it help with range in the colder months of the year, when simply running the ventilation to keep the windows clear?

No, it only helps energy efficiency when heating

eurotrotter said:

Is a heat pump only of use in winter conditions?

Mainly yes, between -5ish and +15 its about 4 times as efficient as resistive heating (the alternative)

eurotrotter said:

Does a heat pump both heat (winter) and cool (summer) the traction battery when necessary, or does it just heat the battery in winter?

Heat pumps heat, the car will already have an AC system this is just an extension of that. As to what it does with the traction battery that depends on the vehicle in question but usually yes.