Reverse cycle AC?

[roflwaffle]

Does anyone know if Aptera is going w/ a heat pump/AC system, or just AC and a resistive heater? Considering we already have the AC system in there anyway, adding a bit more weight than a resistive heated in order to get twice as much heat for the same amount of energy seems to be the low energy way to go, but I don't think there are any OEMs offering this stuff, so while I'd like to see it, I doubt I will.

[Telchar]

A heat pump is more efficient than resistive heating. I'm pretty sure that they're using the heat pump for both cooling and heat.

[NeilBlanchard]

Hi,

It will be a reversible heat pump; by all accounts.

[roflwaffle]

Awesome! I couldn't believe Mitsubishi (unless they changed the design) was going w/ resistive hearing for the iMiev, but at least Aptera is fufilling the LEV niche.

[Matthijs]

Sorry for digging up this old thread but this is still a question I have. From the pictures under the hood it looked like Aptera used a conventional water heater and AC. Any info on that?

http://www.byplug.com/aptera_hood2.jpg

[PatQ562]

The EV1 had a heat pump for AC and heat. The unit drew 400-1700W according to Wikipedia. The AC performace was quite acceptable. The heater performance was pitiful. For some reason, while COLD air comes out of a heat pump right away, it takes quite a while for the warm side to get hot. The EV1 desperately needed a 1-minute "shot" of resistance heat to promptly take the chill off, after which you could get by with much less, but they had a very stingy algorithm for releasing heat, which required lower-than-average temperatures (for Calif) to even work. I hope Aptera is listening. A 2-dollar, 2000W heater element can take the chill off immediately (unlike waiting for a gas car to warm up) but with Aptera's insulated body shell, and maybe heated seats, you could turn it off after a minute, and you wouldn't need much heat to keep things warm - by then the heat pump should be delivering enough with much less power. The EV1 also relied on a heated windshield for defogging, which was OK but not great.

Ironically, an EV runs cool, so the AC is less of an issue until it really gets warm - the "vent" position actually works because fresh air doesn't have to pass by a hot motor. Heat is actually a bigger problem.

The hoses and radiator are typical of any heat-pump type AC unit.

[Mesuge]

Matthijs> seems over-cluttered for ordinary AC and controller cooling setup, I'd bet they water temp manage the batt. pack as well, which is a big plus anyway.

[Matthijs]

Matthijs> seems over-cluttered for ordinary AC and controller cooling setup, I'd bet they water temp manage the batt. pack as well, which is a big plus anyway.

Hey cool to have you on the forum! Yeah if they are going to temp manage the A123 pack that will make them last a long time. Those cells are tough as nails already. That would be a plus over the Leaf. I really would like to know what kind of Heatpump system they are using for the Aptera. I know the Mini E is not using one and I also never seen one in the DIY conversion scene.

[Mesuge]

Well, after all those years, now just "celebrating" the xprize milestone evento_moment via finally registering overhere, hah.
If this is indeed heat pump for the serial production, they had to scout someone/somewhere for a suitable donor-supplier candidate, perhaps RV/boat industry to make some custom changes for the Aptera application. I doubt this is from scratch designed device, who knows.. I recall there have been some diy attempts years ago in similar fashion to adapt existing mini heat pumps, as always it's the price/performance/specs-dimensions-weight compromise..

[Anthony]

I noticed the inverter no longer has 2 fans on the top. Is the inverter water-cooled now? If so, are those hoses taking that hot water into the cab? Maybe they are partially heating the interior with waste heat. Would that be slick?

[Mesuge]

The water cooling pipeline from the inverter seems to be starting as the blue anodized knees and these are routed to the front..

[Matthijs]

The water cooling pipeline from the inverter seems to be starting as the blue anodized knees and these are routed to the front..
Yeah it goes to a small black radiator that is situated at the front behind the right "nostril", you can see more blue on the right top of the picture. The controller is from Phoenix International. A John Deere company. It must be rugged.