Volkswagen cites efficiency gains from CO2 heat pump in first electric SUV coupe
German car manufacturer Volkswagen attributes the efficiency gains and resulting improved range of its first electric SUV coupe, the ID.5, to the CO2 (R744) heat pump used for its mobile heating and air-conditioning.
Benefits of heat pumps
Heat pumps in general are a great match for electric vehicles because, unlike a combustion-based vehicle, the drive components of an electric vehicle do not produce sufficient waste heat in order to adequately warm the vehicle interior during the winter, the manufacturer said. Thus, deriving heat from a heat pump produces “a range benefit compared with electric vehicles without heat pump,” according to Volkswagen.
In addition, CO2’s thermodynamic properties are seen as offering a competitive advantage in terms of energy efficiency in heat pumps compared to other refrigerants. It is estimated to increase driving ranges of electric cars by up to 38%, according to Sanden International, which makes CO2 compressors for mobile air-conditioning systems.
Volkwagen has established what it calls its ACCELERATE strategy to transition to electric vehicles. “By 2030, at least 70% of Volkswagen’s unit sales in Europe are expected to come from electric-only vehicles – that is equivalent to more than one million vehicles,” the company said in a statement. The company is planning to become climate-neutral by 2050 at the latest.