Future-oriented: High-voltage cabin heaters from BERU for electric and hybrid vehicles
The Ludwigsburg specialist for Ignition Technology, Diesel Cold-Start Technology, Electronics and Sensors is developing new high-power ceramic registers with electronic control.
Ludwigsburg, 30 November 2009 – Unlike cars with diesel or gasoline engines, electric vehicles produce virtually no waste heat. The battery radiates too little heat to warm the interior and to defrost the windshield. At low temperatures there is a safety risk. To ensure that drivers and passengers can still have a clear view and travel in a comfortably temperate vehicle, BERU, in close cooperation with BMW, has developed special high-power ceramic registers with electronic control. Around 500 MINI E currently feature the new generation of electric cabin heaters. They are currently being used as rental vehicles in a pilot project in the USA, Great Britain, Germany and other countries.
The new high-voltage cabin heaters from BERU are being installed, instead of the water heat exchanger and the conventional PTC auxiliary heater, in the air conditioning system of the BMW electric runabout and connected to its 400 V high-voltage vehicle electrical system. They have a heat output of 3,000 watts and weigh about 1.8 kilograms. In comparison: a BERU cabin heater for 2nd generation internal combustion engines weighs about 0.8 kilograms and achieves a heat output of 500 to 2,000 watts depending on the product line.
“The high-voltage connection, the required new testing and measuring equipment, as well as the new components presented the BERU designers with a particular challenge which we were able to meet to the satisfaction of our customer”, explains Jürgen Kochems, Senior Account Manager cabin heaters at BERU in Ludwigsburg. To achieve this, our joint venture partner BERU Eichenauer in Kandel used new pellets. BERU Electronics in Bretten developed the matching electronics. The high-voltage cabin heaters were produced in Kandel and at the BERU site in Bretten.
“The successful launch of such a project in just under nine months demonstrates once again the efficiency and innovative strength of our company”, explains Martin Meeh, BERU Key Account Manager cabin heaters. “BERU is well prepared with its high-voltage cabin heaters for future market developments. For the new product is not only suitable for pure electric vehicles, but also for hybrid vehicles with various electrical system voltages.”
