Audi has filed a patent for a liquid-fueled heater designed specifically for electric vehicles, proposing a system intended to reduce the range loss that occurs in cold weather. The concept would use an external burner to provide cabin and battery heating, potentially reducing the impact that heating systems have on an EV’s driving range.
Audi Explores a New Approach to EV Heating
The newly discovered patent describes a heating system that integrates a burner and a heat exchanger into an electric vehicle’s cooling system. The concept revisits an idea similar to one used decades ago, when Volkswagen equipped air-cooled Beetles with auxiliary gas heaters to provide cabin warmth.
According to the patent, the proposed system would function more like the heating system in a conventional combustion-powered vehicle. Instead of relying solely on electricity to generate cabin heat, a compact burner would heat coolant that is circulated through the vehicle’s heating system.
Patent Supports Multiple Fuel Types
Audi states in the patent that the burner could operate using liquid, gas, or solid fuels. The document suggests several possible fuel sources, including methanol gel, propane canisters, and wood pellets.
The patent does not limit the system to a single fuel type, leaving open the possibility of using fuels that are already widely available or other alternatives.
Reducing Cold-Weather Range Loss
Running a cabin heater can significantly reduce an electric vehicle’s driving range, with heating consuming 20% of the available range or more depending on the outside temperature and the heating system.
The patented system is intended to reduce that energy demand by supplying heat from the external burner instead of drawing as much power from the vehicle’s battery. Audi also indicates that the system could warm the battery pack itself, helping prepare it for operation in cold conditions.
According to the patent, the heater could operate automatically and be used both before a trip and while the vehicle is in motion. Preheating the battery would also be beneficial when the vehicle is parked without being plugged in.
Designed for Use While Parked
The patent also describes the heater functioning as a parking heater. Audi notes that it could operate “for example during an overnight stay,” allowing the vehicle to maintain warmth without relying solely on battery power.
The concept is similar to compact parking heaters already used in some camper vans, where fuel is used for heating instead of leaving the engine running for extended periods.
A Patent Focused on Cold-Weather EV Operation
The proposed system is designed to address one of the key challenges electric vehicles face in low temperatures by reducing the battery power required for heating the cabin and battery pack. While the document outlines several possible fuel options and operating modes, it remains a patented concept describing a potential approach to improving cold-weather EV performance.
