Automotive supplier ZF recently unveiled a Porsche Taycan prototype with a number of new parts that the company claims can increase cold-weather range by a third.
Key to this is what ZF calls a central thermal management system that handles temperature control for both the powertrain and the cabin. This is based on a central cooling circuit that uses propane internally. It uses half the refrigerant of conventional designs, but still doubles the cooling capacity, ZF claims. Closed circuit requires no maintenance.
Drive unit ZF EVSys800
If necessary, the central circuit can be connected to two individually controllable water-cooled circuits. One serves the electric motor, the other serves electricity and charges the electronics. An 800-volt heat pump is also fitted to help regulate the cabin temperature.
The concept car also features a new transmission that reworks Porsche’s two-speed transmission. It has a coaxial design that uses two planetary gears to transfer power from the motor to the wheels instead of the conventional input and output shafts. This reduces the weight and size of the transmission without compromising efficiency or refinement, ZF claims, adding that the engine is also more compact.
ZF coaxial reducer gear for EV . actuator
The supplier appears to be responding directly to some of Porsche’s concerns, which last year told Green Car Reports that it underestimate the importance of efficiency when the Taycan was first released. In the meantime, Porsche has introduced some changes help increase efficiency and scope—including modified engine behavior.
All in all, cold weather EV range varies widely by model, a 2022 report from battery analysis company Recurrent found. The same company in a separate report found that, for most electric vehicle drivers, this only means spend more time on charging.
