Hyundai Motor and Kia are considering applying high efficiency carbon nanotube (CNT) heater on their next-generation electric vehicles, TheElec has learned.
The companies recently held discussions to apply CNT heaters instead positive temperature coefficient (PTC) ones on some of their premium electric vehicle brands, people familiar with the matter said.
CNT heaters use CNT as the heating element. It has three times the heat transfer rate of PTC heaters, which use thermistors.
This can improve the traveling distance of electric vehicles.
Hyundai has decided to reduce the capacity of PTC heater as part of its plans to use heat pumps to improve heating efficiency on electric vehicles, the people said.
CNT heater was being considered in line with this plan, they added.
Woori Industrial, which supplies PTC heaters to Hyundai Motor and Kia, is expected to see its earnings decline from the automobile giant’s plans.
In the first quarter, Woori saw its PTC heater sales in South Korea drop 49.64% year-on-year to 4.432 billion won.
Heat pump system has condensers externally that absorbs outer heat; it also has condensers inside that absorb heat from motors, inverters and other components. This reduces reliance on PTC heaters.
