It’s not essential.
You only need that if you’re looking to make the most of battery range on long trips and charging isn’t available.
The public charging network is improving and charging speeds increasing, so heat pumps are becoming less of a requirement in this country.
The heat pump isn’t just about getting more range out of the battery. The battery heater isn’t included either so the car will ‘cold gate’ at any outdoor temperature when it comes to rapid charging.
It’s unlikely you’ll get the advertised speed on a rapid charger without the battery being preconditioned to the correct temp, for the most part the battery needs a bit of heating for the first rapid charge to get the full speed from it.
It’s not just the winter, as above the battery heater is also optional in the same package so you’ll not get decent rapid charge speeds because the car is not going to be able to effectively precondition the battery.
to the credit of musk it's standard on Y , and, is it kona, too ?
so, giving economy of scale, during production, rather than as an option costing more.
if you pre-heated using charger to get cabin up to temp, it's probably of diminishing benefit, ID3/co2 one working at lower temp - best.
I haven't read categorically that Y one, courtesy of the octovalve doesn't help regulate battery temp too ? double whammy.
ioniq5 - has the novelty of pre-orders of bev's worn off - ID3 delays apart - there is a good selection on the market already
Agreed, it seems the German manufacturers are starting a trend of make it an option because everyone wants it.
The model Y is pretty clever, it can use its heat pump to both heat and cool the battery, motors and cabin. It can heat scavenging off its motors and battery to heat the cabin or battery if needed.
I must say for £42,295 the Ioniq ultimate is well equipped, it comes with leather upholstery, electrically adjustable and ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, a sliding centre console, HUD and a Bose premium stereo system.
jpaul - the limited edition Ioniq5 sold out in half a day and the website has crashed for new pre orders due to such high demand????
Yup it does look well equipped, the tech pack doesn’t really offer much for the price.
The only downside is that it’s only a 53kwh battery so in reality your looking at most 200 mile car on a motorway, more likely less especially without the heat pump in winter. It’s a big car with a big frontal area so I can’t see them hitting ionic/model 3 levels of efficiency.
this is basically essential
