Heat pump (EV)
A heating system that uses ambient heat and lets the range drop less in cold weather than a resistance heater.
A heat pump in an electric car heats the cabin by pumping heat out of the outside air or out of waste heat from the drivetrain, instead of generating that heat entirely with electricity as a resistance element (PTC) does. As a result it delivers more effect per kilowatt for the same cabin warmth, especially in moderate cold.
The gain is condition-dependent and not a fixed figure. Owners and tests report in frost roughly 5 to 15 percent more winter range than the same car without a heat pump; in severe cold (well below zero) the efficiency of a heat pump decreases and the difference narrows. On many models the heat pump is an option or part of a package, not standard.
We state whether a variant has a heat pump when the manufacturer states it, because it influences the winter behaviour of the range. The effect itself is stated as indicative and owner-reported; we do not measure it ourselves.
See also: Range, Real-world consumption, 10-80% charging time, Charging curve
Source: OEM manufacturer statement (equipment); effect owner-reported, indicative
No tax or financial advice. Every figure shows its source and reference date. Always compare with an independent adviser and the official source.