Electric cars have come a long way in recent years, offering a cleaner and more sustainable alternative to traditional petrol or diesel-powered vehicles.
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But, as any electric car owner will tell you, one of the biggest challenges with these vehicles is keeping warm during the colder months. Enter the electric car heater! This unsung hero may not be as glamorous as the EV battery or electric motor. Still, it plays a crucial role in making the electric car ownership experience comfortable and enjoyable all year round. Our website visitors are way more interested in EV subscription than non-electric cars, so we decided to research this and write this detailed guide!
In this article, we'll take a closer look at how the heaters in EVs work, their benefits and limitations, and how manufacturers work to overcome some of the more pressing challenges. So, let's dive in and get toasty!
There are a few options available for keeping warm in an EV. The two most common electric car heaters are resistive and heat pumps. Resistive heaters are being phased out, and most early EVs were equipped with them, but we'll explain how they work anyway!
Resistive heaters are similar to the ones you might find in a traditional non-EV car. In simple terms, an engine creates heat by operating. That heat is then used to warm up the car. However, due to the nature of electric vehicles, they are highly efficient and produce little heat, so they are less efficient than heat pumps.
The main advantage of a resistive heater is its simple design, low manufacturing cost and easier maintenance. However, it is less energy efficient than a heat pump, as it converts around 60-70% of the electrical energy into heat, while the rest is wasted as heat loss.
The first generation of the Nissan Leaf (released in ) had a resistive heater. Heat pumps were relatively undeveloped technology then, so newer models have switched and completely dropped their use.
Source: Hyundai and KiaOn the other hand, a heat pump works by warming up the outside air and transferring it into the car's cabin. This type of heater is more energy efficient, with a coefficient of performance (COP) of around 2-3, meaning it can transfer 2-3 units of heat for every unit of electrical energy it consumes.
However, it can be more complex and costly to manufacture, requiring additional components such as a compressor, evaporator, and condenser. This also means more things can break. But think of it like a reverse air conditioner for your car!
Having said that, when the team looked into some of the newer EVs, we found that some come equipped with both a resistive heater and a heat pump. When it goes very cold, think -10C, the heat pumps may struggle a little bit, so the resistive heater can help keep you warm when behind the wheel!
Looking for a new EV and want one with a heat pump as standard? You should check out the following models:
When it comes to electric car heaters, there are certainly some advantages that make them worth considering. Let's take a look at a few of the key benefits.
First and foremost, they are are far more energy efficient than traditional cars with an internal combustion engine (ICE). As we've discussed earlier, resistive heaters convert around 60-70% of the electrical energy into heat, while heat pumps have a coefficient of performance (COP) of around 2-3. This means that, compared to ICE car heaters, EV heaters are more efficient in energy utilisation.
Source: Hyundai and KiaAnother advantage of these heaters is that they can help save you money in the long run. Because the car's battery powers them, you won't have to worry about buying and paying for fuel to keep your vehicle warm. Plus, since electric cars are cheaper to operate, you'll save money in more ways than one.
In some electric cars, the heater can be used to preheat the cabin while the car is still plugged in and charging, which can help to conserve battery power for driving. And you can do that remotely! Now that's handy! This is especially useful when driving in winter (see our latest tips!)
Finally, they can help improve the overall driving experience. With non-EVs, you have to wait for the engine to warm up before you can start enjoying a comfortable cabin temperature. But with an electric car, the heater can be turned on as soon as you get into the car so that you can enjoy a warm and comfortable cabin right away. In addition, electric car heaters are typically quieter, which can improve the overall driving experience.
As with any technology, electric car heaters have a few challenges and limitations. While these may seem like a hindrance, it's important to keep in mind that manufacturers are actively working to overcome these obstacles.
One of the biggest challenges is their impact on the car's range. When the heater is turned on, it can significantly reduce the car's range, as it consumes a lot of energy. This can be particularly problematic in colder climates where the heater is used frequently.
However, manufacturers are working on mitigating this issue, such as using regenerative braking to top up the battery while driving or developing more energy-efficient heaters.
Another challenge is the cost of the heat pump, which is relatively higher than a resistive heater. This makes it difficult for some manufacturers to include it as standard equipment in their cars. However, as the technology matures and economies of scale come into play, the cost is expected to come down.
At the time of writing, we could find heat pumps as optional add-ons on more premium trim levels. So be prepared to fork out anything between £600 and £1,200 for the privilege! Luckily most of the UK doesn't get as cold as North America, but it may be worth it if you live in Scotland.
What do people say about these heaters?
My dad&#;s flight was delayed&#; &#;&#; but no biggie we just watched TV in the car while we waited. Heat pump keeping us warm &#;&#; Can any other car brand do this? pic.twitter.com/D4AvyKuiEI
&#; Tailosive EV (@TailosiveEV) December 17,
Like we mentioned above, heat pumps are a bit more complex and perhaps may be harder to fix, so there are few things one can do to make sure problems are avoided:
To sum up, electric car heaters are essential to the electric car ownership experience, especially for those living in colder climates. They provide a comfortable, energy-efficient, and cost-effective way to keep warm during the colder months.
If you are thinking of switching to an EV, check some of the best electric cars you can subscribe to (without the long-term commitment). Or search for available vehicles today!
Electric cars have ushered in a new era of innovation, with brands regularly updating vehicles to feature all kinds of modern technology.
That includes lots of technology to improve the range of modern EVs, such as regenerative braking. That takes the kinetic energy that would be lost by a car slowing down and feed it back into the battery.
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One of the most notable bits of new technology helping to boost the range of an EV &#; particularly in winter &#; is a heat pump. Now an optional extra on many EVs, heat pumps retain heat from the batteries and use it to increase the range of an EV.
Here we explain how heat pumps work, how they benefit your electric car and how much they cost as an optional extra.
How does a heat pump work?
Motors, whether electric or combustion engine, produce heat when they're used. That's effectively wasted energy, so in an attempt to make the most of it combustion engine cars use a small amount of it to help run a car's heating and ventilation.
By comparison, EVs are just too efficient for their own good: while the motors and batteries do produce excess heat that can harm the range, there isn't enough to be used for the ventilation system. So EV drivers either go cold, or have to draw extra power from the battery to operate a fan heater. Not ideal.
That's where a heat pump comes in. It&#;s effectively a refrigerator but in reverse: its function is the opposite of the one found in your kitchen.
A household fridge contains refrigerant gas which becomes hot when compressed. Once compressed the gas is transported around a number of tubes to the condenser.
The condenser then radiates the heat out, thus cooling the refrigerant gas which then travels into a grid called the evaporator. Because the evaporator is larger than the condenser, the pressure drops and the liquid refrigerant is evaporated. The temperature then drops and the fridge is cooled.
An EV heat pump draws air in from outside, compresses it, then uses the heat from the condenser to raise the temperature in either the battery or the car's interior.
Reversible heat pumps can also warm, as well as cool, the battery. If cooling, any excess heat from the battery can be sent to the inside via the cabin heater.
Does it increase the range of an EV?
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Adding a heat pump has many benefits, but most importantly is its ability to increase the range of your electric car, particularly during the winter months.
When an electric car is switched on in winter months, it takes longer for the battery to warm up which reduces efficiency. The lithium-ion batteries in an EV rely on chemical reactions to store and create electricity. Cold weather slows these reactions down resulting in the drop in performance and range.
It is estimated that EVs range drops by around 10 per cent in winter, even before you account for using extra energy for cabin heating. Heat pumps can really help reduce that drop-off.
During our winter real-world range test &#; conducted in partnership with sister brand What Car? &#; the electric cars fitted with a heat pump fell short of their official range by an average of 25.4 per cent, while those without suffered a 33.6 per cent deficit.
Cars with heat pumps also proved more efficient, averaging 3.2 miles/kWh, compared with 2.9 miles/kWh for ones without.
In addition, heat pumps are often programmed to be remotely controlled by your smartphone, allowing EV owners to heat their car before they set off on a journey. And if you&#;re plugged into the mains electricity you won&#;t drain the battery either.
Do heat pumps come as standard?
Heat pumps becoming more popular, and some brand such as Tesla, Porsche and BMW offer EVs with such devices as standard. Some manufacturers offer a heat pump as an optional extra, and frustratingly they can be a pricey addition.
The Hyundai Ioniq 5, for example, offers a heat pump as an optional extra for £995. Skoda asks for £ for a heat pump for the Enyaq iV. It is worth noting that heat pumps are often included in the kit list for higher trim levels of many models.
Even if they are an expensive option, a heat pump is worth considering: they have extensive benefits, from improving efficiency, to increasing the range of your EV.
Whether you&#;re thinking of making the switch to an EV or about to order your new set of zero-emission wheels, we&#;d recommend adding a heat pump for peace of mind.
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