Ferrari Updates Climate Control for EVs

could revolutionize the industry Ferrari Redefines Climate Control Systems

A patent application uncovered by CarBuzz has recently been submitted to the US Patent and Trademark Office, presenting multiple approaches for an electric Ferrari motorcar to regulate the cabin temperature efficiently. This is a valuable exploration, as EVs do not have combustion engines that produce ample warmth. Therefore, they must use electrical heat pumps, which saps energy from batteries and respectively reduces the range and effectiveness. It has even been documented that when the air conditioning in the vehicle is activated to its optimum output, it can reduce a car’s potential driving distance by up to 41 percent.

To address the challenge of their first electric vehicle, Ferrari has suggested two potential solutions. The primary source would draw energy from a charging outlet, such as a home charger or charging station, whereas the second strategy involves an innovative approach for the storage of heat or cold.

It is easy to comprehend the logic behind a first technique. In a manner analogous to prepping an electric vehicle’s battery before leaving, you can pre-warm or cool the interior of your car with electricity retrieved straight from your utility outlet while it is connected.

Cabin air temperature control will still use existing technology, however, it will now include an electronically supervised heat pump to oversee the strength of the air coming into the cabin while traveling. Mainly, the alteration is that the automobile will be preheated or cooled off before setting off, thereby decreasing the burden on the battery while in motion. This implies that the vehicle is adjusted to your own comfort level, but at the same time having a fully charged battery when you begin your journey.

A more intricate technique, yet based upon the same concept as the primary solution, is the second alternative.

The most significant alteration of this system is the approach it takes to enhance the climate control efficacy with the addition of thermal sinks. A thermal sink is a practice of storing or detoxifying heat (or coldness) in an element that features substantial thermal conduction.

In this case, the chassis frame will be produced out of various hollow aluminum segments, which are formed to channel air through the frame components. Warm air shall be guided by means of these airways, transferring heat and thus capturing it in the aluminum portions.

Electricity will serve as the means by which to heat the air, coming from a separate secondary source. Special note must be given to an implemented inductive heating tool along with a different air circulation fan. This might require electricity consumption; in spite of this, the thermal advantages achieved will ultimately compensate for it. To illustrate, we’ll elucidate further.

The chassis frame shall be insulated from the external environment, but at the same time expose itself to emit its stored heat or cold temperature towards the interior of the automobile. By preheating the frame prior to leaving, the requirement to warm up or cool down the air within the cabin via its battery will be lessened as there will already exist a transmitting thermal element at a suitable warmth in proximity with the internal air of the car.

When outside temperatures become high, the control system will employ the standard cabin air cooling system to distribute cold air through the body, allowing it to be pre-cooled to absorb heat that might be introduced to the passenger space from the outdoors when driving. However, the circulation of air through the chassis shall be distinct from the air flow within the interior, to preclude any likelihood of outer air not going through filtration entering the cabin.

Although these methods will not fully regulate the temperature of the car for long journeys, they will certainly assist in minimizing the need for relying on battery energy to either warm or cool the inner areas of a vehicle during shorter rides.

It’s evident that this form of energy-saving know-how and similar ones play a fundamental role in electric vehicles, no matter if they’re luxurious Ferrari F8 Tributo replacements or humble pickups. In order to extend the range, GM has figured out how to draw on body heat while Ford determined that heating inner surfaces is more resourceful than utilizing a ventilation arrangement. Furthermore, Lexus has validated the effectiveness of infrared technology in augmenting range.

As time goes on, these increased small transitions will accumulate and consequently the electric vehicles of tomorrow will prove to be much more productive than those accessible today.