VAN BUREN TOWNSHIP, Mich.,
Sept. 28, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --
Visteon Corporation (NYSE: VC) has developed a heat pump system
that effectively utilizes ambient air and ancillary heat to improve
cabin conditioning for hybrid and electric vehicles. By drawing
less power from the lithium-ion battery, vehicles equipped with the
heat pump system can operate longer on a single charge.
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Combustion engines create waste heat that be used to warm the
vehicle cabin. Since hybrid and electric vehicles generate
considerably less heat, the climate system must produce heat for
the cabin, a process that drains power from the battery. Visteon's
heat pump system transfers energy contained in the ambient air to
cool and heat the cabin. Its electric compressor cools the cabin of
a hybrid or electric vehicle by operating the refrigerant cycle in
one direction, and heats the cabin by operating the cycle in the
reverse direction.
This heat pump system consumes about 50 percent less power and
can extend the number of miles driven on a battery charge by 30
percent. This electric vehicle data compares Visteon's heat pump
system to an electric heater during a New
York City drive cycle at minus 10 degrees Celsius.
"Our heat pump system is a great example of innovations from
Visteon that take advantage of available energy to make electric
and hybrid vehicles drive farther," said Nurdal Kuecuekkaya,
general manager – climate, Europe.
"This heat pump is versatile since it can easily be added to an
existing automotive climate system architecture."
For more than 10 years, Visteon has been using its full-vehicle
system knowledge to develop heat pump systems, which has lead to
several co-development projects with vehicle manufacturers in
Europe and Asia. Visteon has used this experience to
create solutions that improve the drive range of hybrid and
electric vehicles, resulting in commercialization contracts.
About Visteon
Visteon is a leading global automotive supplier that designs,
engineers and manufactures innovative climate, electronics and
interior products for vehicle manufacturers. With corporate offices
in Van Buren Township, Mich.
(U.S.); Shanghai, China; and
Chelmsford, UK; the company has
facilities in 28 countries and employs approximately 22,000 people.
Learn more at www.visteon.com.
SOURCE Visteon Corporation