Heat pump

[Scoop]

According to EV INSIDER, RIVIAN is working on a heat pump for improved cold weather efficiency. It sounds like they changed their mind. Thoughts?

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[astonius]

Definitely has me concerned that their immediate solution which many claimed would make a heat pump irrelevant is not working out so well.

 

[Craigins]

Maybe the 800v system doesn't produce enough waste heat compared to the 400v system.

 

[crashmtb]

Definitely has me concerned that their immediate solution which many claimed would make a heat pump irrelevant is not working out so well.

A heat pump wouldve been useless to me for the last six months ?

 

[Rivian_Hugh_III]

Heat pump schmeet pump, am I right Vern??

But seriously, I don’t know the backstory about the heat pump — how it works in this scenario and why Rivian thought they didn’t need one. But I live in Michigan and I’d like what’s best in cold.

 

[SeaGeo]

Heat pump schmeet pump, am I right Vern??

But seriously, I don’t know the backstory about the heat pump — how it works in this scenario and why Rivian thought they didn’t need one. But I live in Michigan and I’d like what’s best in cold.

You would probably be happier with what they have now than a heat pump, unless the latter is also paired with a resistive heater.

 

[ResidualReality]

As they've mentioned the two motor version and that the current system works through some combination of using the motors to produce heat, maybe the heat pump is a better system for the two motor variant?

 

[moosehead]

RJ mentioned HP is forthcoming on 3/10 earnings call. Not sure if that meant next gen or not.

 

[ajbrutman]

According to EV INSIDER, RIVIAN is working on a heat pump for improved cold weather efficiency. It sounds like they changed their mind. Thoughts?

yes, RJ mentioned it in the investor call

 

[ajbrutman]

RJ mentioned HP is forthcoming on 3/10 earnings call. Not sure if that meant next gen or not.

welp, you beat me by a minute

 

[Gsxr150]

Definitely has me concerned that their immediate solution which many claimed would make a heat pump irrelevant is not working out so well.

Me too...in Minnesota.

 

[LeoH]

I hope they release it AFTER I get my R1S. It would really suck not to have heat in your car in Chicago. Otherwise, I hope they offer a complimentary space heater that plugs into a 110v outlet in the vehicle.

 

[no4bit]

I hope they release it AFTER I get my R1S. It would really suck not to have heat in your car in Chicago. Otherwise, I hope they offer a complimentary space heater that plugs into a 110v outlet in the vehicle.

Do you mean before? Having previously lived in Chicago for over a decade, reliable heating is definitely a necessity.

 

[EVnewb]

Do you mean before? Having previously lived in Chicago for over a decade, reliable heating is definitely a necessity.

I think he’s referring to a conventional heat pump’s inefficiency in very cold weather. Heat pumps can’t draw any heat out of the air when the temperature drops below a certain point so that’s when a heating coil would work best. Heat pumps are very efficient and work well in milder climates though.

 

[Engi_Nerd]

Don't really understand the sentiment against heat pumps. Our Model Y heat pump has been unbelievably good this winter, blowing excellent heat, pretty much immediately down in the single digits. Our typical highway economy is around 380-400 wh/m, at around 70 mph, which I think it's pretty crazy impressive. Maybe their specific design will require service down the line, but the tech works literal wonders. People who have never owned EVs (and who won't get to use the supercharger network) need to get in a new headspace where efficiency is no longer an afterthought. It can be the difference between getting there and not. We had a bitter cold day last week where a 30 mph headwind dropped our highway efficiency to nearly 600 wh/m, changing our travel plans significantly. Maximizing efficiency where you can is important.

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