Volkswagen Short of Heat Pumps In Electric Vehicles

Due to delivery bottlenecks, Volkswagen is currently unable to install heat pumps in its electric cars. According to reports, in addition to the VW ID models, Audi vehicles are also affected. How the group deals with customer orders is unclear.

The option to order a heat pump for electric vehicles is currently disabled. This is reported by the online magazine which has obtained a statement from the Volkswagen Group.

The heat pumps are actually built by the supplier TI Fluid Systems in the Czech Republic, but cannot be delivered at the moment. So far there is no indication as to whether VW can at least satisfy the existing customer orders. The problem affects the entire group worldwide.

“Due to the ongoing shortage of semiconductors, there is currently no optional offer for the heat pump in our ID. models. We are monitoring this situation very closely and hope to be able to include the heat pump in our offer again soon,” explained Volkswagen when asked.

The heat pump in electric cars is an important factor for range and comfort. Without the heat pump, the vehicle has to draw all of the power it needs for heating or cooling with the air conditioning system from the battery – at the expense of the value range, which has a negative effect, especially in cool temperatures and small batteries. Volkswagen explains this on its own website using the ID.3 as an example: “In the all-electric ID. models, an optional heat pump ensures energy-efficient heating of the interior. This means that less electricity is required from the battery.”

There are currently “deviations in the equipment”

However, there is currently a note on this: “The vehicles and equipment shown and described here may differ in individual details from the current German delivery program. Please also note our configurator for an overview of the currently available models and equipment.”

Incidentally, Volkswagen was still advertising up to 2021 full-bodied with up to 30 percent more range in winter thanks to a heat pump. Then the electrical experts from Nextmove showed that this advertising promise is not tenable. As a result, VW paid around 60,000 buyers of a heat pump for the ID.3 and ID.4 compensation.