The heat pump helps increase vehicle range in colder climates by significantly reducing heating-based energy consumption
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by Andrew Gutman
January 23, 2023 at 13:31
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by Andrew Gutman
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Electric vehicles are known to have diminished performance in all areas when introduced to cold weather. For example, range, power, and charging speed all tend to decrease when temperatures drop. One of the best solutions to this is a heat pump, and Tesla decided to put out a video detailing the unique one they use in their vehicles to increase cold-weather efficiency across the board.
The way a heat pump works is by absorbing energy from the outside air, then channeling it back into the cabin as heat for occupants. This is much more energy-efficient when compared to resistance heating, the other main method of heating an electric vehicle’s cabin. Resistance heating, which operates exactly as it sounds, involves running electricity from the battery through resistors, which in turn generates heat that can be pumped into the cabin.
The heat pump was first introduced on the Model Y, then the Model 3, and most recently, the refreshed Model S and X. But unlike many other heat pumps on the market, Tesla‘s claims to be different by offering increased system integration, making for a simpler, more streamlined design that should in turn be more reliable in the long run. But just how much does that really affect the vehicle’s efficiency? Tesla claims it allows for 15-20 percent less energy consumption overall, which we’d say is fairly significant.
For a full technical breakdown of the unique heat pump, we’d recommend checking out the video above.
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