Finding
Heat pumps are becoming standard on EVs, and the electric compressor and multi-port valve are the parts that set cost and supply
A resistive PTC heater turns one kWh of battery energy into one kWh of heat and draws 3-5 kW in cold weather, cutting range sharply at subfreezing temperatures. A heat pump reaches a coefficient of performance (COP) of two to three in mild cold, stays useful to about -15 to -20 C (5 to -4 F), and falls back on resistive heat below that.
Tesla launched its octovalve heat pump on the Model Y in 2020: one eight-way valve routes refrigerant and coolant among cabin heating and cooling, battery heating and cooling, and motor waste-heat recovery, and the motor can be stalled deliberately to make heat. Hyundai's E-GMP, Volkswagen's MEB and SSP, BYD's e-Platform 3.0 and most Chinese premium platforms carry heat pumps; BYD and others now integrate the heat pump, valve block and chiller into a single thermal module.
The scarce hardware is the high-voltage scroll compressor. Hanon Systems (Korea, controlled by Hankook & Company since early 2025), Denso, Sanden (controlled by China's Hisense), MAHLE, Valeo and Marelli supply most Western programs; Aotecar, Highly and BYD's in-house unit supply much of China. Valves and integrated modules center on Sanhua and Dunan in China. Refrigerant is its own exposure: R-1234yf comes mainly from Honeywell and Chemours, and the proposed EU PFAS restriction has pushed Volkswagen and others toward R-744 (CO2) systems that run at much higher pressure.
Hardware
What is in the loop
Every heat pump uses the same five parts; integration and controls separate good systems from adequate ones.
| Component | Role | Leading suppliers | Supply note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electric compressor | Raises refrigerant pressure and temperature | Hanon, Denso, Sanden, MAHLE, Valeo; Aotecar, Highly, BYD | Highest-value part; capacity shared with building heat pumps |
| Condenser and evaporator | Deliver and absorb heat | Hanon, Valeo, Denso, MAHLE; Yinlun, Sanhua | Aluminum brazed cores; see Heat Exchangers |
| Chiller | Links refrigerant to battery coolant | Hanon, Valeo, MAHLE, Sanhua | Required for fast-charge cooling |
| Expansion valves and multi-port valves | Meter refrigerant; switch modes | Sanhua, Dunan, Fujikoki, TGK, Egelhof | Octovalve-type blocks are specialized |
| Sensors and controller | Pressure, temperature, mode logic | OEM in-house; Bosch, Continental, Sensata | Calibration is a constraint of its own |
Refrigerants
Refrigerant choice
| Refrigerant | Status | Strength | Constraint |
|---|---|---|---|
| R-1234yf | Standard in new vehicles under EU MAC Directive and US EPA rules | Low global warming potential, drop-in hardware | Classed as a PFAS; supply concentrated at Honeywell and Chemours |
| R-744 (CO2) | Optional on VW ID models and some premium EVs | Better heating at low ambient; no PFAS | Pressures above 100 bar; costlier compressors and lines |
| R-134a | Phased out of new EU vehicles; legacy elsewhere | Cheap, mature | High global warming potential |
| R-290 (propane) secondary loop | In development | Excellent efficiency, no PFAS | Flammable; kept in a sealed module outside the cabin |
Tradeoffs
Where heat pumps pay off
| Tradeoff | Heat pump side | Simple side | What decides it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Efficiency vs simplicity | Integrated valves, chiller, waste-heat recovery | PTC heater plus basic HVAC | Climate and duty cycle |
| Performance vs cost | Wider operating envelope, better winter range | Lower bill of materials | Segment price point |
| Integration vs serviceability | One sealed thermal module | Separate replaceable parts | Service model and warranty |
Sources
Sources and scope
- Scope
- EV Heat Pumps
- Sources
- Supplier disclosures; Tesla (Model Y, 2020); EU MAC Directive; ECHA PFAS restriction proposal
- Updated
- October 2026