Mahle gets more range from the air conditioning system

With a new system for interior heating, Mahle is reducing the energy requirement of the air conditioning system in the vehicle by up to 20 percent. In electric cars, this slightly increases the range in winter. The "Heat X Range+" recovers heat from the interior air and preheats the fresh air drawn in through the exhaust air. It also improves the air quality in the vehicle. Thanks to its modular design, car manufacturers can easily and cost-effectively integrate the new system into existing models.

Tests with a typical mid-range e-vehicle at an outside temperature of minus seven degrees Celsius and an interior temperature of 20 degrees showed that the range per battery charge increases by almost 10 kilometers. At the same time, the continuous supply of oxygen-rich air guarantees high interior air quality and minimizes the risk of fogging on the vehicle windows.

The new heat recovery system uses the air conditioning system's evaporator to recover thermal energy from the exhaust air in the passenger compartment and make it usable. In the process, the air that is led outside heats the refrigerant in the evaporator as it leaves the passenger compartment. The refrigerant then transfers the stored energy to the fresh air drawn in before it enters the vehicle interior. This efficiently preheats the fresh air and reduces the heating requirement in winter temperatures compared to conventional exhaust air systems.

The new heat recovery system has no detrimental effect on the air flow performance and acoustic behavior of the vehicle air conditioning system. It is currently designed for the refrigerant R1234yf, but can be adapted to all alternative refrigerants with minor modifications. (aum)