[themanfromamarillo]

Story in the German press saying that VW over-egged the pudding a bit on the heatpump efficiency. The story also suggests they are cutting the price of the heatpump by €285 and refunding customers who already bought an ID.3 with a heatpump by the same amount.
Gutschrift für Kunden des ID.3 & ID.4: VW mit Geld-zurück-Wärmepumpe

This story on the same subject also mentions the possibility of improving the heatpump efficiency via a software update
VW: Elektroauto-Wärmepumpe weniger effektiv als gedacht - ecomento.de

 

[loggamatt]

Uh oh, sounds like the VW 'EVgate' scandal! Maybe the penalties will force them to start selling more diesels to make up for it...

 

[Mr_ess_jay]

I'm pleased the price is being reviewed. Whether you are for or against a heatpump in an ID3 in the UK, most would agree it's not value for money and bought mainly for convience.

 

[Electrickery]

The heat pump can't ever make up for the huge lost efficiency of always running the battery heater once it's below 8c or so.

 

[Jon Chalk]

Interestingly, one comment in those pages suggests that because the real-world efficiency of the IDs has been better than expected, the heat pump cannot deliver the percentage range increase. Having a less efficient base car would have made it easier to deliver on the promise.

 

[OB1CCFC]

There have been stories floating around about this since Nextmove tests last December.
Likewise about battery heating not working from plugged in charger (always from battery pack).

Nextmove Discovers Heat Pump On VW ID.3 Makes It Less Efficient

Nextmove tested the VW ID.3 and discovered that the EV is less efficient with a heat pump. Volkswagen said that will be fixed with future updates.

www.google.com

 

[6652]

That’s it, I’m going back to diesel.

 

[cah197]

That’s it, I’m going back to diesel.

Does it come with a free heat pump?

 

[6652]

Does it come with a free heat pump?

That’s not a bad idea, will it help with efficiency?

 

[loggamatt]

Does it come with a free heat pump?

Some of them came with free socks. To stop your feet getting cold.

 

[6652]

Some of them came with free socks. To stop your feet getting cold.

I never got my free ID socks, yet another VW scandal. I might start a class action, who is with me?

 

[loggamatt]

I never got my free ID socks, yet another VW scandal. I might start a class action, who is with me?

Why do the Sheeple keep buying VWs?? Will they never learn?? Don't their sockless feet get cold??

 

[OB1CCFC]

Seems a bit odd why anyone would actually buy a heat pump at the moment when there seems to be no quantative data or commitment on the benefits it would deliver.
Not sure what other manufacturers actually say ..

 

[loggamatt]

Anyway, the ID.3 isn't lacking for range in any conditions. If they were going to throw in freebies at current prices, extras that might improve range in some conditions like the heat pump should be well down that list. After rear bloody speakers at the very least!

 

[cah197]

Some of them came with free socks. To stop your feet getting cold.

I see VW can teach Tesla a few lessons. Always got cold feet in the Model S!

 

[M C Williams]

The heat pump is like a lot of things in life, wishing you had done something afterwards when it is too late.
To be honest that is why I went for the heat pump, I thought it was no good wishing I had added the heat pump afterwards.

The extra cost didn't come into it, I thought the time waiting for the car to arrive Dec to March the extra cost would be saved by then.

I know everybody doesn't think the same as me.

 

[Tony1]

I've always felt my Zoe is pretty efficient and cosy in winter and that has a heatpump, so I was keen to ensure the same was in place on my forthcoming ID3

 

[6652]

A heat pump wasn’t an option on my 1st, obviously, and if I’d had the choice I probably would have ticked that option, well, just ‘because’.

Having looked into it since then, I think it’s clear that the benefits are only really realised if you’re in a very cold climate, and even then only if you’re pushing the range. It’s not like your car isn’t ‘efficient and cosy’ without one.

I must admit to scratching my head when I saw the NextMove tests last winter, it’s a special kind of heat pump that gives worse efficiency with a heated cabin than one without.

That kind of reinforces my belief that it only really comes into its own in very cold conditions.

 

[Kansalis]

Seems a bit odd why anyone would actually buy a heat pump at the moment when there seems to be no quantative data or commitment on the benefits it would deliver.

Because the majority of people will believe what the manufacturer's representative (main dealer salesman) tells them as part of their sales pitch rather than doing their own research. Which of course is mostly just given parrot-fashion from the handbook or their most recent sales training from VW. In the case of the heat pump the sales pitch is probably something like "yes, it gives you more range when it's cold outside". Those same people will likely never be any the wiser either. If they don't want to do any additional research before buying their car, they are very unlikely to be keeping up with what happens across the internet about it either.

I suppose ignorance probably is bliss for some people. If they bought a car that works and continues to work until they replace it, then who cares?

 

[MrPaulus]

Germany has much colder winters than most of the UK, so a heat pump is more important. The whole thing sounds bizarre though.