GOING THE DISTANCE
Controlling temperature is important for any car, but it is especially important for electric vehicles like the I‑PACE and the I‑TYPE Formula E race car.
In racing, effective thermal management means drivers can compete faster and longer out on the track. For road cars such as the I‑PACE, drivers can gain up to 30 miles (or 50 km) more range between charges.
Within the I‑PACE, three temperatures all need to be controlled: the battery, the motors and the driver’s cabin. The vehicle’s sophisticated thermal management system heats and cools all of these individually — and harvests energy from one to the other. So, if heat is generated in the electric motor, this is used to heat either the interior or the battery, or both. Transferring heat energy in this way means the battery is used less for heating, resulting in more of the battery’s power being available for greater range.
In addition to harvesting energy produced by the vehicle itself, the I‑PACE uses a highly efficient heat pump to heat the car’s interior.
The impact of the heat pump is considerable. When the outside temperature is between 50°F and 59°F, using the heat pump — rather than power exclusively from the battery — can extend the range of the I‑PACE by up to 30 miles (50 km).
1‑15 Disclaimers