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Heat pumps included in GM EVs could give them a real-world range advantage


GM confirmed Monday that it plans to include heat pump technology in all of its current and upcoming Ultium-powered electric vehicles.

That includes Hummer EV currently being delivered and coming soon Cadillac Lyriq, plus many more to come in the next few years. In it, the technology will help recover low-level waste heat in ways that can add up in meaningful ways — giving them faster acceleration, faster charging, and longer range.

The system is based on an automotive grade heat pump with waste heat recovery and recovery. Like systems other car manufacturers like Tesla use (or Toyota, as illustrated below), one of the GM EVs uses a specially selected system of compressor and evaporator and refrigerant components that undergo phase change. A physical reaction pays off by releasing energy as it travels from gas to liquid – to amplify whatever energy it can gain along the way.

Heat Pump Toyota Prius Prime

Heat Pump Toyota Prius Prime

That extra could include cabin heating, low-level electrical functions, or even battery pre-conditioning — potentially extending range by up to 10%.

According to GM Chief Electrification Officer Tim Grewe, the Ultium platform was envisioned from the outset as a building block strategy that would enable small consumer electric vehicles such as Chevy Blazer EV (and Equinox EV) on large commercial trucks. GM claims it can help speed up charging and acceleration as well as extend range.

Introduction 2024 Chevrolet Equinox EV

Introduction 2024 Chevrolet Equinox EV

The Ultium platform strategy is a bit different from the current thermal system strategy EV . Boltsexplained the executives, as it used the heat pump approach as a way of unifying and simplifying the rest of the system.

The heat pump doesn’t add mass — even when comparing the larger Ultium models to the Bolt EV — system project manager Lawrence Ziehr confirmed. “It’s just a smarter way to connect systems.”

Instead of adding a lot of cooling circuitry like you did in the Bolt EV, you could use the actuator as a cooler for the battery and “be free from ambient temperature,” as Grewe put it. The Ultium has a resistive cooler, compared to the Bolt EV’s two, and it also eliminates the need for a standalone A/C compressor.

Ultium EV Platform - GMC Hummer EV

Ultium EV Platform – GMC Hummer EV

Grewe suggests that staying efficient in the real world is a strong point of the system. When “balancing passenger comfort in a non-EPA cycle, that’s where this system really shines – like a 45-degree high-humidity day where you need to dehumidify and then heat.” .” With the Bolt EV, in a similar situation, one unit cools the air for dehumidification, then another for heating.

For a more interesting example, in the Hummer EV’s Watts to Freedom performance launch mode, GM needed to make the motor magnet as cool as possible, while it needed the battery to warm up, with the help of a kit. Heat exchanger from oil to liquid.

GM has also tweaked the design to work in extreme cold – down to -30 degrees Celsius – by warming the pump slightly so the process takes place at that temperature.

2023 Cadillac Lyriq test

2023 Cadillac Lyriq test

In all these questions, it is a game of energy and energy. By being able to take the energy released during dehumidification and use it directly for heating, Grewe says you can get 4-6 kWh from the system for 1 kWh put in. For thermistor, the best potential reward will be close to 1 kwh return for every 1 kwh in.

It’s a double effort that Tesla — even though it wondering about heat pump the company’s cars from years ago — even now popping up around.

GM’s heat pump design also plays a role in pre-conditioning the battery pack — typically warming it up before DC fast charging. Owners will be able to manually select battery pre-conditioning, or the vehicle will do so automatically if the fast-charging destination is set in the GM Navigation app or Google Maps on the vehicle. In general, heat up to reach peak charge earlier. On the contrary, it does not necessarily ignite when charging the battery to do so. Grewe clarifies that with this system, a lot of the preconditioning energy comes only from the drive unit’s waste energy.

Heat from one place, to another — with some physics wizardry in between. It can make a big difference.



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