How do the heaters in electric cars work?

[dave 911]

With no coolant system, what do the Tesla and Leaf use for heaters? Just curious, I saw a Tesla on the way in to work this morning and that thought popped in my head....

[GH85Carrera]

Just a wild guess.

The batteries themselves have a cooling system on many electric vehicles. Maybe that can provide heat to the cabin.

[wdfifteen]

I am so 20th Century. I would have said resistance heaters. So, smart guy, without any IC engine to produce a vacuum, what makes the wipers go?

[kaisen]

Teslas have liquid cooled/heated battery packs that keep themselves at roughly room temperature, so there is a coolant supply that's always in the 70°F range. Leafs do not have liquid cooling, so any heat is from a resistance heater. The Volt takes the Tesla model one step further and will start its ICE for a few minutes to get 185°F coolant to heat the cabin if it's below 35°F outside, and not plugged in.

[flipper35]

Where does the heat come from on an air (oil) cooled 911? I believe they also have resistance just like a space heater if the system doesn't give enough heat.

Patrick, the wiper are run from the vacuum pump just like the old Willys jeeps had.

[cockerpunk]

Originally Posted by flipper35

Where does the heat come from on an air (oil) cooled 911? I believe they also have resistance just like a space heater if the system doesn't give enough heat.

Patrick, the wiper are run from the vacuum pump just like the old Willys jeeps had.

old 911s have a heat exchanger in the exhaust. thats why they have such ridiculously powerful heat.

[rick-l]

I'm pretty sure it is a heat pump in a Tesla

[VINMAN]

Toasters....

[rcooled]

Originally Posted by kaisen

...

I don't know anything about how EVs provide heat, but it's good to see kaisen posting here again

[flipper35]

+1

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Heat comes from the flames under the floorboards.

[pksystems]

They don't. Not very well at least.

There is a reason you don't see many/any in colder climates.

Range drops to nothing as soon as you need electric heat.

[vash]

^This.

Or warm pixie dust.


Sent via Jedi mind trick.

[kaisen]

Originally Posted by pksystems

They don't. Not very well at least.

There is a reason you don't see many/any in colder climates.

Range drops to nothing as soon as you need electric heat.

I'm in a cold climate. There are tons of them here. If you can keep them plugged in, you can set the climate control to allow "shore power" to heat the car. Then when you drive off it's already warm and you're just maintaining the temp. If it's not plugged in and you need to warm with 100% battery power, you're going to have a limited range (Volt not withstanding).

[cockerpunk]

Originally Posted by pksystems

They don't. Not very well at least.

There is a reason you don't see many/any in colder climates.

Range drops to nothing as soon as you need electric heat.

i see them all the time here in Minnesota. even in winter ....

[rusnak]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

i am so 20th century. I would have said resistance heaters. So, smart guy, without any ic engine to produce a vacuum, what makes the wipers go?

lol!

[1979 930]

ball bearings and 10/ 40 w oil !!https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ58m--7jb-dDsz14Tm6ybJeT2sOkCGuS3WGetOyzGl8NAgYEgT

[foxpaws]

Heated seats... not kidding. I have a Volt - and yes, if you heat the cabin on a cold day it drains the batteries, however, heating your butt is much more energy efficient. I have only had to deal with a couple of cold mornings since I had the car, and butt heating seemed to be adequate for the 28° temp outside. I am sure when I have to deal with -0° I will be using the heater....

[rusnak]

Hippie farts, really? Must be like old Cheerios and beer....

[foxpaws]

Had a friend with a 60s Elan - of course the heater was dicey.... he always joked - 'Just wrap a weasel around your neck - you'll be fine.'