How does a heat pump work on an electric car?

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Cold weather poses a challenge for electric vehicles. When the temperature drops, so does range. But some EVs fare better in winter than others, and their edge lies in the device they use to warm up the cabin and its occupants: the heat pump.

The massive lithium-ion batteries in EVs work well when temperatures are moderate, but when it's cold outside, lithium ions slow down, making batteries less efficient, which saps range. But EVs face another, even greater cold-weather challenge. Unlike gas-powered cars, which use the excess heat from the engine to warm the cabin, EVs produce very little waste heat and therefore must rely on their already-taxed batteries to warm things up. This process, more than the cold itself, is the real winter range killer.

That's where EVs with heat pumps have a distinct advantage. Many EVs warm their cabins with resistive heaters, which use electricity to heat wires and then blow air over them. That process draws considerable energy from the battery. The Nissan Ariya, Hyundai Ioniq 5, all new Tesla models, and a growing number of other electric vehicles now come with heat pumps, which use a far more efficient warming process, leaving more charge available for propulsion.

Heat pumps have gained popularity in recent years as a promising piece of range-preserving technology. This is especially important if you live where the mercury regularly dips below freezing.

Hyundai

Heat Pumps Preserve Range in Cold Weather

Given how range-conscious many EV drivers are, anything that saves range is worth considering, and heat pumps do just that. Instead of heating up wires, heat pumps essentially move heat from outside the car to inside, akin to a refrigerator but in reverse. Outside air is drawn in and compressed, and the resulting heat from the system's condenser is used to warm the cabin.

The process is highly efficient, so it has minimal impact on range. In a study conducted by electric mobility-focused publication Move Electric, EVs with resistive heat fell short of their typical range by 33.6% on average in cold weather, while cars with heat pumps fell short by 25.4%.

Tesla

Heat Pumps Can Precondition the Cabin Before You Leave Home

One of the great perks of owning an EV is the ability to precondition the cabin before you head out on a frigid morning. Just set your departure time in the infotainment system or through a smartphone app and enjoy a toasty cabin when it's time to go.

Heat pumps make this process far more efficient, leaving as much power as possible for actual driving. If you precondition your car when it's plugged in, you'll be able to leave home with both a warm car and a full charge.

Efficiency is even more important if you warm your car when it's not plugged in because you don't want to do anything to drain your battery before setting out in the cold.

Tesla

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Heat Pumps Can Speed Up Charging

The cabin isn't the only place where heat is needed. EV batteries charge fastest when the ambient temperature is between about 60 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit. In colder temperatures, the battery benefits from being warmed before you plug in.

Many EVs have settings that can begin preconditioning the battery on the way to a charger, but that warming process draws energy from the battery. Heat pump-equipped EVs can employ the same efficient process used to warm the cabin to precondition the battery, meaning you'll have less reason to fret about your dwindling range while you're making your way to a charger.

Choosing the best options from lengthy lists can be a tricky business when buying or leasing a new electric car. From reversing cameras to cruise control, voice activation to digital mirrors, the lists can be a mix of daily essentials to the latest luxury playthings.

There’s one bit of kit, though, that we’d recommend all electric car owners go for: the heat pump. Humbly named compared to some technology available, it’ll keep you warm in the winter while helping to maximise range. Clever, right?

Why have I never heard of a heat pump?

Well, historically cars haven’t needed them. Inefficient petrol and diesel engines produce waste heat which we learnt to re-use to heat the cabin. By contrast, an electric motor is very efficient and doesn’t produce much waste heat at all, so engineers had to find another way to keep us toasty in winter.

The simple answer would be a regular fan heater. Trouble is they’re extremely inefficient and on full blast would use significant amounts of battery and harm range. The solution? An extremely efficient heat pump.

So how does a heat pump work?

Essentially, it’s a home fridge… but in reverse. While a fridge takes the warm air from inside and moves it outside to keep your milk fresh, a car heat pump moves heat out to in. Any excess heat from the battery and electrical systems, plus air outside the car, is compressed at high pressure. This compression raises the temperature which can then be used to heat the cabin. The whole thing takes just seconds.

Will a heat pump really increase my range?

Simply put, yes. Compared to a traditional heater, a heat pump is around three times more efficient. Electric car range drops in cold conditions (you can find out more about how to here), but range tests show that mileage drops around 10% less in the cold on cars fitted with a heat pump compared to those running a fan heater. Heat pumps will work their magic in all temperatures, too, so it’s not just technology for sub zero climates.

It’s also great because a heat pump enables efficient remote pre-conditioning, which means you can set your car to a temperature and let it defrost from the comfort of your home, while watching neighbours wrap up and go to work with an ice scraper. If you’re plugged in at home while pre-conditioning then you won’t be draining the battery, either, further adding range.

So, what electric cars have heat pumps?

For all the reasons above, heat pumps are becoming increasingly common on the latest electric cars. Some offer them as standard on base spec but more commonly they’ll be optional add-ons on a more premium trim level. Unfortunately, a heat pump can’t be retro-fitted and will need to have been installed when the car was ordered new from the factory.

Here’s a list of some of our top models available to lease via GRIDSERVE Car Leasing that feature heat pumps:

Hyundai Kona Electric
Kia e-Niro
Tesla Model Y
Volkswagen ID.4
Audi Q4 e-tron
Nissan Leaf
Peugeot e208

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