This estimator shows how an EV heat pump can reduce cold-weather range loss compared with resistance cabin heating. It combines a baseline battery energy budget with heat demand and heat-pump COP.
Use it to compare heating scenarios or plan a winter trip. The result isolates cabin heating and does not model cold-battery losses, winter tires, snow, wind, or changes in driving speed.
1. Enter usable battery energy
Use the energy available for driving at the start of the scenario.
2. Add no-heat efficiency
Enter the expected miles per kWh before cabin heating.
3. Estimate heat demand and duration
Use average thermal power and trip hours.
4. Set the heat-pump COP
Choose an effective value for the expected temperature and operation.
5. Compare ranges
Review range with the heat pump, without heating, and with resistance heating.
The comparison with resistance heat sets COP to 1. Range cannot fall below zero in the display.
The headline is the modeled distance available after the heat pump consumes electricity for the entered heating load.
Cold batteries and other winter effects can reduce range beyond the heating-only loss shown here.
Given: 75 kWh usable battery, 3.5 mi/kWh driving efficiency, 5 kW heat demand, 3 hours, and COP 2.5.
Calculation: Cabin heat = 5 × 3 = 15 kWh heat. Heat-pump electricity = 15 / 2.5 = 6 kWh. Range = (75 − 6) × 3.5 = 241.5 miles.
Result: About 242 miles, which is 31.5 miles more than the 210-mile resistance-heating scenario.
No. Heat demand is thermal output. Electricity use equals heat demand divided by the heat pump COP.
Enter the expected driving time because heating energy accumulates with time, not distance alone.
No. For a simple resistance-heating comparison, use 1.0.
Battery temperature, denser air, winter tires, road conditions, and more accessory use can all add losses.
It quantifies the modeled benefit of the heat pump compared with resistance heating under the same heat demand.