German car maker Volkswagen said it has started offering a CO2 (R744) heat pump to supply heat and air conditioning in its electric vehicles, one of the first car makers to do so.
“All models of the new ID [Intelligent Design] like ID.3 and ID.4 are equipped with an R744 AC and heat pump,” said Christian Buhlmann, Head of Communications, Technology and Innovation, for the company.
In September, Volkswagen released the ID.3 and ID.4 electric vehicles.
“We are also looking at equipping other models with R744 ACs as well in the future,” added Buhlmann.
In a heat pump providing both heat and AC in the fast-growing electric vehicles market, CO2’s thermodynamic properties offer a competitive advantage in terms of energy efficiency 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.
“We are also looking at equipping other models with R744 ACs as well in the future.”
Christian Buhlmann, Volkswagen
