Tesla may be about to improve cold-weather range in Model 3 – report
The Tesla Model 3 may be about to receive a heat pump, designed to improve range in cold-weather climates.
According to a report from American electric vehicle news site Electrek, customers have begun taking delivery of the Tesla Model 3 in the US with a smaller 'frunk' (the front storage area where the engine would traditionally live), suggesting the company could be making room for a heat pump.
A heat pump unit transfers the heat produced by the electric motor and uses it to warm the batteries, as well as providing comfort to the vehicle's occupants. While the Tesla Model Y has a heat pump fitted, the rest of the Tesla range misses out.
Colder temperatures can affect batteries, reducing a vehicle's driving range by an average of 41 per cent.
In late 2019, Tesla patented a seat heater system using circulated fluid.
While there's been no announcement from Tesla, social media is buzzing with rumours of a heat pump being added to Tesla's entry-level car, theoretically providing an increased range to the Model 3 in cold weather.