[7S POWER]

Volkswagen Offering R744 Heat Pump for Electric Vehicles

 

[tothemoon]

I'm assuming there will be no ability to retrofit...

 

[hilld]

I'm assuming there will be no ability to retrofit...

That retrofit is probably trade in your old one for a new one and pay huge sums of money. Sad but true.

 

[Fahrer]

That announcement is about 8 months old. It is probably the current design that VW is currently not happy with.

 

[d287]

You may not wish you had a CO2 powered heat pump if you live somewhere it gets hot. R744 is less efficient as a cooling agent than it is as a heating agent. (https://www.ideals.illinois.edu/bitstream/handle/2142/13365/CR039.pdf) I suspect that VW has very good reasons for only shipping the CO2 heat pump in Canada and Northern Europe.

 

[ChristophW]

I believe the heat pump in ID3 and ID4 was using CO2 from day one. Was I missing something?

 

[d287]

Yes, they are using CO2 (R744) since the beginning of the ID line. (https://accelerate24.news/regions/g...co₂-heat-pump-for-electric-vehicles/2020/amp/) Note they aren’t using this in hot countries. Sanden makes the compressors, the same folks who sell hot water heat pumps which are excellent- but don’t recommend the refrigerant for cooling purposes.

 

[7S POWER]

I'm assuming there will be no ability to retrofit...

No, at all. US uses R1234yf refrigerant vs VAG & EU R744. The two aren't compatible at all. That's why Canada gets the heat pump because Canada uses R744.

 

[js12345]

If I understand right, VW ID.4 doesn't come with heat pump and uses R1234yf as its refrigerant for AC. Is that correct?

 

[SunWizard]

If I understand right, VW ID.4 doesn't come with heat pump and uses R1234yf as its refrigerant for AC. Is that correct?

In the US you are correct. The rest of the world the heat pump is an option, except Canada where they all have the heat pump which is R744.

 

[js12345]

Thanks Sun wizard. Also it's using R1234yf. Is that correct as well? Do you know the reason why heat pump is not being used in the US?

 

[SunWizard]

Yes you are correct on both your questions R1234yf. You would have to ask VW why we don't get heat pump as an option. Likely because the US dealers are not equipped to handle R744 yet, and the heat pump is less efficient in hot temperatures (>80F) that we get in the southern half of the US to the point of not providing enough cooling and shortening range.

 

[js12345]

Oh I see. Thanks for the explanation. I will check with the dealers regarding option since I am in the northern half of US.