Turning around technology: – Ford finally gives in

(Elbil24): It was already in 2019, during the launch of the Ford Mustang Mach-E in Los Angeles, that Elbil24 had its first chat with the developers at Ford about the new Mustang Mach-E. The topic we discussed was heat pumps.

We pointed out that such technology was essential to maintain the range in a better way in winter. Ford’s representatives believed that they had examined the solution thoroughly, and that it was not very significant. One of the arguments was that what they considered the competitor – Tesla – did not have it, but still managed to maintain a decent range in the winter.

A few months ago, Elbil24 was able to report that Tesla was to introduce a heat pump in its cars.

At the same time, Elon Musk stood on stage during one of his launch shows and told how big a difference the technology would make, and that the heat pumps maintained their range significantly in winter.

Well, as I said.

Apples and pears

But a heat pump is not just a heat pump, because there are differences. As in a house, the heat pumps have a primary side (the outdoor part) and a secondary side (the indoor climate). The simplest heat pumps for cars do in practice the same as in houses, by using the outdoor environment as the primary site. However, this is not the most effective solution when it starts to get colder than 10-15 degrees Celsius. Then the efficiency drops considerably, and the pumps do not offer much of an advantage.

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The more developed solutions therefore no longer use the outside air as the primary side, but automatically switch to instead fetching heated air from other closed components, where the temperature has already been heated. Examples of such heat sources can be both the battery and the motors. In this way, the car can choose which environment the heat pump will use as the primary side, and it should therefore not be particularly colder than 10-15 degrees Celsius to maintain good efficiency.

In an electric car, the outside air can be one area, the engines can be another, the battery a third, and the passenger compartment a fourth. And that is precisely why the most advanced pumps have what is called a four-way valve on the primary side, where the valve turns to the area from which it is most appropriate to obtain the temperature. At the same time, they also have a valve that selects where this heated or cooled air is to be delivered to. It could be either the compartment, the battery or the engine here as well.

Both Audi and Tesla were early adopters of such solutions. Audi states it as four zones, while Tesla calls the valve system Octovalve – four in and four out. The main principle is the same.

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Finally, Ford

Not too long ago, Ford launched the large all-electric pickup F-150. These days they are also about to launch the Ford Explorer in Norway.

The former, the F-150, was initially not equipped with a heat pump, but based on experience they have now chosen to upgrade the model in 2024. Ford has therefore entered into a collaboration with the subcontractor Denso to have such a heat pump system implemented. Although Ford has been cool to the heat pump technology until now – presumably for financial reasons – the pipe from Denso sounds completely different.

– The heat pump simply makes it easier for all other components in an electric car to do a better job, Rob Cardno at Denso tells Automotive News. He adds that they are now working on the experiences from the first generation of pumps, to both the second and third generation.

– Not least the software that controls these systems will be important, adds Cardno.

Porsche goes against the flow

The best example of a car where thermal management of components is taken seriously is the new Porsche Taycan. It has undergone an extreme transformation from the original car to the now upgraded version that will arrive in May.

Sara Razavi is the expert who has developed the new energy system in the car, and she has focused most of all on getting all components heated up to the most efficient operating status, or temperature if you will.

The European holiday is saved

This is the complete opposite of what the electric car manufacturers were talking about just a couple of years ago. We traveled almost around the world and were told how the manufacturers should cool down the systems to take care of the health of the batteries as best as possible.

We at Elbil24, on the other hand, requested heating systems for the coldest periods, as cooling is not a topic, but heating.

It will be alright

As for the Ford Explorer, this also comes with a heat pump, but here Ford has leaned towards the Volkswagen group, as the Explorer is a pure by-product of the VW group’s MEB platform. Engines, batteries and other things are sourced directly above, and Ford has then built a car around the technical aspects.

The most important thing is that Ford has now realized that the heat pump is a natural part of the electric car, especially in winter. And if there’s one thing we have enough of in Norway, it’s cold winter days. Not least the last winter has made us aware of this, with cold records across large parts of the country. But to quote the rescue companies, it is the electric car they experience the fewest problems with in the winter cold, heat pump or not.

Now it just remains to be seen what Ford does when they have to develop their own cars, not just build on other manufacturers’ platforms. Have they understood the seriousness? It remains to be seen, but it seems that way.