Rheinmetall presents new modular EV heat pump

The German defence company and automotive supplier Rheinmetall has presented a new heat pump for electric vehicles that is offered as a plug-and-play solution. The compact component is completely pre-assembled and filled.

The system solution is designed for 400-volt as well as 800-volt applications and was developed for precise air conditioning of the interior and intelligent conditioning of batteries in electric vehicles and drive components. It delivers up to 8 kW of nominal cooling and up to 11 kW of heating power for battery and hybrid systems.

Rheinmetall describes the system as a plug-and-play solution, as it is delivered to customers as a compact component, completely pre-assembled and filled. During development, the focus was on compact dimensions so that the new heat pump as a complete system helps carmakers to save important installation space, says Rheinmetall. Therefore, the heat pump should be able to be integrated not only into new but also existing vehicle platforms. At the same time, the system is said to be so flexible that it can also be used in the electrification of commercial vehicles, construction machinery and boats.

Rheinmetall does not give exact dimensions or technical data beyond the nominal cooling and heating capacity in the press release. However, it confirms that cooling or heating is carried out via a connected coolant circuit consisting of water and glycol. In addition, the “high-precision intelligent control” is emphasised, thanks to which the component makes “important contribution to economically viable, efficient and comfortable electromobility”.