International Journal of Applied Engineering Research

and Development (IJAERD)

ISSN (P): 2250–1584; ISSN (E): 2250–9383
Vol. 12, Issue 1, Jun 2022, 15–22
© TJPRC Pvt. Ltd.

REVIEW OF RESEARCHES ON HVAC SYSTEM LOAD ON ELECTRIC VEHICLES

ELISH GANESH, YASHAS SHETTY, BIPIN WAIKHOM, C.M. VILAS & KIRAN C. H
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Alva’s Institute of Engineering and Technology,
Mijar, Moodbidri, DK- 574225, India
ABSTRACT

In electric vehicles battery is utilize not only by the electric motor but also by another auxiliary components which
enhance the safety and comfort of the vehicle. HVAC system which aids for thermal comfort. Electric vehicles are the
best solution of environmental problems like greenhouse gas emission, air pollution and noise pollution. Electric
vehicle’s range depends on the battery capacity. Comfort of Passengers has a significant impact on the battery pack of
EVs and directly affect the range of the electric vehicles. The review work conducted highlights numerous variables that
are taken into account while conducting the research works carried out by various authors. Thus, this paper mainly
focuses on the parameters such as Impact of HVAC system on Electric Vehicles, External factors affecting the HVAC
load and Range of the EV, Refrigerants used in HVAC system of electric vehicles and Range prediction and
optimization. These parameters are one of the most prominent research areas in the background of the HVAC equipped

Original Article
EVs. Through this article readers will be able to expand their knowledge in the field of electric vehicles as well as HVAC
system of EVs.

KEYWORDS: Electric Vehicle, HVAC, Range prediction, Auxiliary conditions, Refrigerants

Received: Mar 10, 2022; Accepted: Mar 30, 2022; Published: Apr 22, 2022; Paper Id: IJAERDJUN20222

INTRODUCTION

The earlier generations of automobiles employed Air Conditioners. However, these air conditioners could just cool
the cabin areas thus proving less useful on cold winter days. In order to overcome this shortcoming, HVAC was
incorporated which not only was serviced as an Air Conditioner but also as a Heater. Thus, thermal comfort was
ensured irrespective of the weather conditions. Additionally, HVAC systems also have functions such as defogging
of the wind-shield, dehumidifying the cabin, purifying the cabin air, etc.

Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning, abbreviated as HVAC is a unit that has many different
components such as compressor, condenser, throttle valve, pressure regulating devices, etc. The unification of all
these components provides thermal Comfort in the vehicle cabin. Thermal comfort can be defined as a human
being’s thermal sensation of the surrounding environment, which expresses the level of satisfaction of the thermal
environment. Unfavourable thermal conditions would have an adverse effect on an individual’s health. For
comfortable of passenger, a comfortable temperature and constant fresh air is essential. And in order to fulfil this
requirement, a well-performed HVAC system is vital.

Electric vehicles are introduced as the solution to environmental issues such as greenhouse gas emission,
air pollution, and noise pollution. Electric vehicles would have never existed without the advancement of battery
and power electronics design. However, the electric vehicles carriage new design challenges in terms of driving
range and battery capacity which is restricted by the battery pack. The battery stress is significantly dependent on

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16 Elish Ganesh, Yashas Shetty, Bipin Waikhom, C.M. Vilas & Kiran C.H

the power consumption of the whole electric vehicle. Electric vehicle power consumption is not only limited to the electric
motor but also to other auxiliary components in electric vehicles. The architecture design in Internal Combustion Engine
(ICE) vehicles helps the HVAC system to use the heat generated from the engine for heating the cabin zone. Therefore,
only fans can use energy to maintain the temperature of the cabin in cold weather. However, due to the structural
differences between electric and internal engine vehicles, the HVAC system does not use the heat generated by the electric
motor. This system requires more power from the heating coil to generate heat, which significantly increases the energy
consumption of HVAC.

Research background with regard to Electric Vehicles is very vast and it is an exponentially growing research
topic as a switch to efficient EVs would be incentivised by various organisations especially the government. Hence, with
the relevance of the title of this review article we have discretised the discussion into very fundamental areas of research.
Thus, a summary of researches conducted in the areas of impact of HVAC system on electric vehicles, range prediction
and optimisation, external factors affecting the range and refrigerants used in the HVAC system of electric vehicles have
been produced in this paper.

IMPACT OF HVAC SYSTEM ON ELECTRIC VEHICLES

A vehicle equipped with ICE would dedicate most of its power towards the powertrain system and the remaining Auxiliary
systems for instance wipers or navigation systems would run on a battery. Electric vehicles however do not have distinct
sources for running auxiliary and powertrain systems simultaneously, both of them derive power from a single battery unit.
The HVAC unit, out of all auxiliary systems consumes a significant amount of energy in EVs.

The research work carried out by Bellocchi et al.[1] assesses the variance and nonlinearities of the HVAC system
load on the driving range of the EVs. The parameters that contributed toward the nonlinearities were mainly categorised
into the Locations, Seasons and time of the day in Italy. The assessments of these parameters on the HVAC system
conventional heat pump produced the result that the HVAC system derived about 38% of the total energy that was
assigned for the traction of the vehicle. This reduction was then rectified numerically when they proposed the model that
equips a regenerative heat exchanger. The rectification was seen when the driving range showed an increase in its value
from 68km to 98km when the same nonlinear parameters were taken into account.

The influence of the HVAC system can be understood better using modelling software. MATLAB is a powerful
simulation tool that can be applied on this area of research as it has various plugins that can help analyse literally anything.
Hence, Mebarki et al.[2] conducted a thorough analysis on Electric vehicle and HVAC system by employing the
MATLAB Simulink environment. The methodologies applied mainly the simulation models of:

 Air-conditioning system

 Vehicle without AC system

 Vehicle with the AC system.

The simulation models accounted the results of the consumption of the battery pack of the EV w.r.t to variation in
the surrounding temperature. It was also advised that Li-ion batteries should be equipped and must be standardised in a
vehicle as it offers efficient dynamic properties while running the propulsion and the HVAC systems concurrently.
However, efforts must be taken in order to reduce the auxiliary system load on electric vehicles.

Impact Factor (JCC): 6.3648 NAAS Rating: 2.88

Review of Researches on HVAC System Load on Electric Vehicles 17

A driving cycle is a common representation of set of vehicle speed points versus time. It is used to assess fuel
consumption and pollutants emissions of a vehicle in a normalized way, so that different vehicles can be compared. The
driving cycle is performed on a chassis dynamometer, where tailpipes emissions of the vehicle are collected and analysed
to assess the emissions rates. In electric vehicles a driving cycle is used to analyse battery state and energy consumption in
Electric Vehicles. A drive cycle contains reference data. Minimum speed, 3-dimensional plots are maximum speed,
average speed, Speed Acceleration Probability Distribution, and Speed Acceleration Frequency Distribution. The selected
micro-trips can be used for the construction of drive cycles. In study conducted by Lee et al[3] effects of air conditioning
(i.e., cooling and heating) on driving range were studied for various driving modes including UDDS, HWFET, and NEDC.
Their experimental setup featured components such as Chassis Dynamometer (48” compact 4WD), dynamometer control
cabinet and data analysing system. These components can be schematically shown in the figure.

Inference in their research conducted on the three driving cycles proposed that, UDDS driving range is 12.6%
higher than HWFET and NEDC driving ranges, because EV's driving propulsion was created by electric motors. Also, A/C
operating prevails considerable effects on driving range decrease. Reduction rate is 16.8% (149.3 → 124.4km) on UDDS
and 12.3% (132.1 → 115.86km) on HWFET.

EXTERNAL FACTORS AFFECTING THE HVAC LOAD AND RANGE OF THE EV

There are many external factors like ambient temperature, solar radiation, road grade, humidity, and so on which affect the
HVAC system energy consumption for optimal thermal comfort. Many studies have proved that among all factors ambient
temperature has the highest impact on HVAC power which in turn has impact in driving range.

Kai Luiet al. [4]concluded that ambient temperature affects energy consumption in electric vehicle due to output
energy losses in electric motor and auxiliary loading. Among auxiliary loading they focused on HVAC system and state
that if threshold value between ‘cold’ and ‘warm’ is distinguished then heating becomes unreasonable in the temperature
range higher than threshold temperature and cooling becomes unreasonable in the temperature range lower than threshold
temperature, therefore potential energy saving is feasible. It results that an average of 9.66% electric power will be saved
by eradicating unreasonable vehicle auxiliary loads.

Kurt Kruppok et al. [5]simulated the 5-zone car cabin model under the influence of solar radiation and ambient
temperature to conclude that heating takes longer than the cooling by HVAC system. Therefore, heating consumes more
electric energy than cooling of the cabin.

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18
REFRIGERANT USED IN HVAC SYSTEM OF ELECTRIC VEHICLES.
Author Objective/Aim
This paper aims to show the
Budi Santoso and experimental results to
D..P Tjahjana[6] replace HC-134a by HC-
134 mixture.
This paper aims to find out
the performance of R134a
and CO2 which is used in
J S. Brown et. al. [7] air conditioning systems of
various automobiles by
using model (semi-
theoretical).
The objective of this
research is to analyse and
Prajitno et.al. [8] find out the characteristics
of refrigeration for different
types of cooling loads.
Find out the power
Brahim Mebarki consumed by AC on EV run
et.al. [9] by Li-ion battery and its
effects.
Sizing of AC system and
Bongha Song,
optimised the energy
JiwonKwon,Yongsuk
consumption for cabin
Kim[10]
cooling.
This paper aims to analyse
the how a refrigeration
FeiQina et. al.[11]
injection affects the
performance of a system.
Impact Factor (JCC): 6.3648
Elish Ganesh, Yashas Shetty, Bipin Waikhom, C.M. Vilas & Kiran C.H
Methodology
It was carried out
experimentally by varying
the condenser temperature
between 30 °C to 50 °C.
It is carried out by using
simulations models.
NIST’s semi-vapour
compression models
(CYCLE 11.UA, CYCLE-
11UA-CO2) is used to
carry out the experiment.
It was carried out
experimentally using a
wagon car of Toyota,
Toyota Vios 2013 in Heat
and Mass Transfer
Laboratory.
This experiment is carried
out by using MATLAB by
considering different
MATLAB environment.
It uses SINDA/FLUINT, a
mainly use tool for
simulating a system which
uses very complicated
fluid system like
automotive industry,
aerospace industry etc.
It is performed
experimentally by building
a ASHP test bench for
electric vehicle. The
temperature is varied
between 20 C to 0 C to
carry out the experiment.
Conclusion
The experimental results shows
that HC-134 has more
refrigerating effect than HC-
134a.The COP of HC-134 is
more than HC-134a by 36.42%
and the results shows that HC-
134 energy factor is greater than
that of HFC-134a by 3.78%.
From the results obtained show
that the coefficient of
performance of CO2 is lower
than that of R134a, for a
compressor having s speed of
1000 RPM the COP of CO2
which is at 21% at 32.2C
reduced to 34% at 48.9C.
In tropical areas when the speed
of the compressor increases the
effect of refrigeration, the
working of compressor and the
heat of the condenser also
increase. COP is decreased due
to the above changes.
Refrigeration characteristics is
also influenced by external
loads.
1.39KW of power which is
almost equal to 7.93% of total
power is forced to provide when
a combined loading consisting of
AC, rolling friction, direction of
the road, drag, slope angle etc.
which in turn increases the
DOD. There is less effect of
increasing temperature to the
performance of Li-ion battery.
Increasing the compressor
working power improves the
cooling performance of the
interior, which in turn effects the
driving range. The results
obtained shows that by
increasing the working power of
the compressor by 20% the
driving range will be decreased
by almost 3km.
From the results obtained it can
be proved that when difference
in temperature between the
evaporator and the condenser is
greater than 55C, injection of
refrigerant can improve the
capacity of heating.
NAAS Rating: 2.88
Review of Researches on HVAC System Load on Electric Vehicles 19

The papers referred helps us in identifying and understand the effects of refrigerants use in HVAC system in electric
vehicles. HVAC consumes a lot of energy from the battery of the EV and reduces performance to a great extent, from these
papers we come to know what kind of refrigerant can be used to increase the performance and efficiency as well as
decrease the pollution due to the emission of greenhouse gases from this system. Data regarding air conditioning sizing and
the test of heat pump using different compressor to increase the efficiency can be obtained from some papers referred.

RANGE PREDICTION AND OPTIMIZATION

Author Objective/Aim Methodology Conclusion

Estimation of energy
Hatem Abdelaty consumption rates and
and Moataz validation using the
Mohamed[12] Altoona’s test real-world
data.
Estimation of the driving
Mohammad
behaviour in terms of
Abdullah Al
future vehicle speeds that
Faruque and Korosh
will be integrated into the
Vatanpurvar [7].
EV battery optimization.
Design a control system
which satisfies the HVAC
requirements in Electric
Ivan Cvok1 et al.
vehicles and validating the
overall control system by
simulation.
Maciej Gis et Determination of heating
al.[14] system efficiency.
To estimate variation of
Jari Vepsalmainen, energy demand in wide
et al. range of indeterminate
factors.
MATLAB Simulink.
A distinction in Artificial
Neural Networks (ANN)
called Nonlinear Auto
Regressive model with
eXogenous inputs
(NARX)
Software based
simulation and modelling
of HVAC and control
systems related to it.
Simulation and
experimental validation.
Modelling and
simulation is done in
MATLAB.
The study shows a causal
relationship between the transit
network parameters and energy
consumption with the use of
multiple linear regression analysis.
The original setting mindful NARX
model empowered assessment for as
long as 30 seconds with <12%
blunder (27% improvement) and
further developed the control
execution up to 82% of the most
extreme ideal exhibition.
It concludes that it is possible to
achieve favourable trade-off
between thermal comfort and
HVAC efficiency in optimisation-
based feedback control strategy.
The results drawn out suggest the
usage of a powerful Heat Pump
which would not severely drop the
performance in terms of the range
of an electric vehicle.
The mean energy request was
1.20 kWh/km with a standard
deviation of 0.32 kWh/km and on
normal 28% of the active energy
was recuperated through
regenerative slowing down.

The papers referred helps us in predicting the range of the vehicles under the influence of external factors and
climatic conditions affect. Electric vehicles usually have less range than advertised by the manufacturer. Hence available
energy has to be utilised effectively to get better range. Each trip is unique and has changed energy loads in terms of drive
cycle and other energy consumers. Besides all other loads, HVAC can be more energy consuming among auxiliary loads.

CONCLUSIONS

In recent decades, Electric vehicles have been proved to be a hot topic that is discussed in almost every part of the world.
The world has seen the drawback IC engine equipped vehicles hence a shift to electric vehicles have been incentivised and
developed. The research area with regard to electric vehicles have a broad background thus this review work focuses
energy consumption factor by HVAC in EVs.

Through this article, the readers will be familiarized to the numerous research work that have been conducted in

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20 Elish Ganesh, Yashas Shetty, Bipin Waikhom, C.M. Vilas & Kiran C.H

the field of HVAC system impact on electric vehicles. This paper narrows the approach by taking into account of impact of
HVAC system on electric vehicles, range prediction and optimisation, external factors affecting the range and refrigerants
used in the HVAC system.

In the future the parameters that lead to thermal comfort and range optimisation in an electric vehicle can be
considered as an integral area where research and development would lead to an optimised electric vehicle.

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Impact Factor (JCC): 6.3648 NAAS Rating: 2.88

Review of Researches on HVAC System Load on Electric Vehicles 21

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