Summary
Heat pumps are warming homes, drying clothes, and even appearing in electric cars.
But in electric cars, heat pumps are sometimes an optional extra.
What do they do, and are they worth the extra cost?
Image Credit: Viktoriia Hnatiuk/Shutterstock
What Is a Heat Pump?
The condenser compresses the gas, turning the gas into a liquid and releasing heat into the surrounding area.
In this case, the evaporator pulls heat from inside the fridge.
Image Credit: Bertel King/MakeUseOf
A heat pump goes through the same routine but takes advantage of a different process.
You benefit from the heat that the condenser releases.
An EV without a heat pump instead typically relies on a form of resistive heating.
This is actually an efficient process since all of the electricity is converted into heat.
A Heat Pump Increases Winter Range
EVs suffer from reduced range in the winter.
They’re not unique in this regard.
This, combined withissues with public EV charging, contributes to range anxiety.
A heat pump reduces how much your range drops in the winter.
After all, heat pumps are often installed alongside (rather than instead of) resistive heating.
From an engineering perspective, a heat pump is an optional extra.
Does Your EV Need a Heat Pump?
Whether you benefit from a heat pump depends largely on where you live.
