EVs and the heater on a cold morning !

One issue with Evs is the fact that there is no waste heat from the thermally inefficient internal combustion engine to heat the passenger compartment. From what I've seen of an EV on turning the heater on it almost halved the distance the computer told the driver he could travel. May be some of those with EVs on here could confirm this - or are EVs only for warm climates ? Will EVs be insulated as our new home will and only offer recirculated air ? Just a few thoughts as winter sets in. Noel.

An excellent thread-starter, Noel

I foresee a market for duvet-like coverings for the vehicles.

MichaelG.

Since the air has to be heated electrically I suspect that there's a setting to switch on the heating whilst the car is charging at a set time. Or from your phone app.

As John says car can be set to defrost before you unplug in the morning so it's all toasty and warm when you walk out the door. Far better than leaving a IC engined car running on the drive for 5mins just to melt teh ice.

My 1969 VW Type 4 had a separate hot air heater running on petrol to do the same job.

But wouldn't suitable clothing be the answer?

Nick, there won't be enough sheep skins for that when we all have to go to a plant based diet

Dress as Nick has shown and ride a 1.5Kw electric motor cycle. The ultimate in economy ? Pre heat may be fine but what if the journey is more than 15 mins or so ? I want to go to Oxford (130m), 2 1/2 hours away ?  Noel.

Edited By noel shelley on 22/11/2021 10:28:54

Not the whole story as far as I gather. Regenerative braking puts energy back into the battery but if the battery is full then brking energy either is dissapated in conventional friction brakes of resistive loads whch do then generate heat that can be used for cabin heating.

regards Martin

Newer models have 'Pedalo' mode.

Martin.

Even an electric vehicle generates from the motor and from the battery, sufficient to need liquid cooling, so cabin heating on a long journey should not be a problem.

Peter

My late FIL waa an upper turrent gunner in a RAF B17 bomber, Pretty sure he told us he had an electrically heated suit, maybe that will be the answer. Loved the seat warmer in my car when I could drive, but an eye stroke a couple of years ago put an end to my driving.

Many (better) models are fitted with heat pump devices. All batteries produce heat when either charging or discharging, so some heat is available, soon after starting on a journey. At other times I would guess the heat pump might take heat fro the air? Add to that a heated steering wheel and seat options, will provide quite a lot of personal comfort for the driver at much reduced power draw.

On top of that, halving the range with just cabin heating is a ridiculous claim, unless the battery is already a small one (so a ‘city’ car rather than a long distance model.

Most certainly the range is reduced during cold weather, but also for ICE cars as well (although not to such an extent).

Personally, I don’t see the initial claim to be relevant for (most) current models.

Too many ‘negative’ postings turn up re BEVs. They are improving all the time - and becoming cheaper.

If the vehicle has air conditioning, there should be no reason that it can't be used as a heat pump for heating.

Nick s clobber is suitable for the old crocks run. Does this mean all turned full circle? Ha,ha, no offence intended, Nick.

Um; I'd have had a rough time yesterday. Driving 142 miles each way (3 hour journey; longer returning because of motorway congestion ) to volunteer at The WaterWorks Museum, on battery power.

And I used the heater, but got 65 mpg on a small Euro 6 compliant petrol car and still have half of a 35 L tank left.

Battery, motor, and control system development has some more way to go to match the ICE powered vehicle,, but will get there, but possibly not in my driving lifetime!

Howard

I bet we've got loads of early motoring stories between us.

I remember my dad's first car had holes in the floor, and being wrapped in blankets: this was in Northern Ireland. Mum says the car (an early Ford Prefect) had to be rolled downhill to start it on frosty mornings, it needed oil every month, the clutch slipped, and it jumped out of gear. Later, he took us to Malta, where we cooked in a brand-new Ford Anglia, plastic seats. This was reliable, but vibrated badly above 65mph. Dad had to crawl underneath twice a year with a grease gun. My uncle flipped a Morris Minor taking a roundabout legally at 30mph. 'Oh yes', said a sympathetic policeman, 'they do that'. Corrosion was an endless problem: can anyone explain why the British Car Industry took so long to apply underseal as standard on cars sold in a country were we salt the roads? All the external welds on my mate's mini rusted through. Exhausts had to be replaced, sills welded, and loads of other stuff like rubber gaiters and universal joints failed regularly. The electrics often misbehaved. Car maintenance was almost a second career - weekends were spent discussing car problems with the neighbours and fiddling with points and spark plugs. I could go on...

My father's Vauxhall 10 had electric windscreen demisters! NOT original equipment, nor a heater!

He stuck the two onto the screen with some glue, (Not very effective,they need to be refixed at least once a year )

Could just about keep the screen clear on a long journey on a cold night. Black bakelite casing, think the brand was "Air Flow"

Howard

Howard , Trico used to do something like that they were fixed to the screen with suckers (pun)

When I first got my very secondhand Ford 100E van, before I could afford a heater, I fitted a chromium plated Lucas demister to the screen That fell off regularly as well!

In the hard winters of '61, 62, 63 driving from Shrewsbury to London, and back, (Sheepskin boots, gauntlets, dufflel coat and scarf, the heater, on Demist (no heat to cabin ) left only the front screen clear of ice (Even that had a rim of ice ) with all other glass frosted, inside and out.!

The good old days?

Howard