So I have to take a road trip in an EV, and it’s winter. So I’m going to have to use the AC. I know in my old ICE car I could have the AC off and the fan would blow hot air just from the engine. With my EV it seems to be the same, even with the AC button off the vents are blowing hot air. Is that hot air just heat vented from the battery? Or is it still using battery power for the compressor to heat the air.

  • ZetaPower@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    1 year ago

    There are 3 ways to heat an EV. In order of simplest & most energy consuming to most complex t & least energy consuming:

    ( • resistance seat heater ) • resistance heater • heat pump external only • heat pump external & internal

    Resistance heater = simple stick, run a current through it = heat. Efficiency = 100%. You need ~4kW of heat to heat up the interior, battery, etc. This costs ~4kW

    Heat pump external = AC pump in reverse, pumps outside heat to the interior. Efficiency =100-400%. 4kW of heat now costs 1kW at best and 4kW when it’s colder than -15C.

    Heat pump internal & external = same as the external, but more complex. This also scavenges heat from motors, electronics, pumps, battery pack and so on. Works more efficiently & more efficient in cold weather.