Thermo King announced on Wednesday a new heat pump designed for battery-electric buses in moderate and colder climates.
Traditional electric resistance heaters can reduce buses' operating range by drawing energy from the vehicle's batteries. The TE Series Heat Pump enables operators to extend bus range, reduce emissions and maintain passenger comfort, the company says.
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"This product is a critical step in continuing to make public transportation more efficient, reliable and eco-friendly, proving that decarbonization and operational excellence can go hand in hand," says Chris Tanaka, vice president of product management for Thermo King Americas. "Our TE Series Heat Pump represents the future of sustainable transit. By applying heat pump expertise, we are equipping fleet operators with innovative solutions that extend beyond emissions reduction alone."
Rather than generating heat from battery power, the heat pump extracts heat from ambient air, resulting in up to 2.5 times the energy efficiency, Thermo King says. The company says electric buses with the heat pump can achieve up to 50% more range at moderate temperatures and up to 30% more range at colder temperatures compared to those using electric heaters.
