German automotive company Rheinmetall has received an order for a new heat pump from a European electric tractor manufacturer.

The order is valued in the “lower-two-digit millions of euros range.” The heat pump, preassembled and loaded with coolant, improves vehicle range, battery life and driver comfort through thermal and cooling control. The seven-year contract begins in 2024, when the first heat pumps will be delivered for field testing. Designed for both 400 V and 800 V applications, the system delivers nominal cooling performance of 8 kW and 11 kW of heat output.

The heat pump maintains the temperature of the battery, electric motor and passenger compartment, serving as an active thermal management device. Heating and cooling occur through a linked coolant circuit. The complete system is adaptable to new and existing vehicle platforms. It is also suitable for customized client applications.

“Owing to the increasingly high requirements levied on the thermal management of modern electric vehicles, the number of individual components and connections for the cooling and coolant circuit continues to increase sharply. Here, thanks to its compact design as a complete system, Rheinmetall’s new coolant solution helps to save critical installation space,” the company said.

Source: Rheinmetall