Rheinmetall presents new heat pump for electric cars

Heat pumps are currently on everyone’s lips – especially when it comes to real estate. But the technology also harbors enormous potential for electromobility. Defense group and automotive supplier Rheinmetall, for example, has now presented a new compact heat pump for electric cars.

Heat pumps could play an important role in the fight against climate change. Because the technology makes it possible – relatively energy-efficiently – to cool down or heat rooms. But this does not only apply to the real estate industry. Manufacturers in the automotive industry have also been installing heat pumps in their vehicles for years.

Since electric cars are primarily about range, BMW relies on a heat pump for the BMW i3, for example, in order to be able to continue to offer comfort functions without having to cut back on kilometers. Defense group and automotive supplier Rheinmetall has now presented a new compact heat pump for electric cars.

New heat pump for electric cars, particularly space-saving

The company emphasizes that the new in-house model is particularly compact. The device is also designed for the operation of 400 and 800 volt applications. The cooling capacity is eight kilowatts, while the heating capacity reaches up to 11 kilowatts. In the long term, comfort functions in electric vehicles could use less energy from the battery.

The advantage of such a system is obvious. Because the less space a heat pump takes up, the more space the manufacturer has for the actual battery technology. The heat pump from Rheinmetall is therefore based on a coolant circuit made up of water and glycol.

Rheinmetall is keeping a low profile

As promising as Rheinmetall’s technology sounds, the company reveals so few details. Because Rheinmetall does not provide any further information than that specified. The price is still unclear at this point.

The company only announced that the system is designed as a plug-and-play system and is also suitable for commercial vehicles, construction machinery and boats. If the new heat pump combines the advantages mentioned in an even smaller space, numerous application scenarios should open up with widespread availability.

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