Jaguar Land Rover aiming to reduce Air Con and heating energy use by HALF

Jaguar Land Rover are developing ‘Air Bubble’ and  ‘Warm Air Blanket’ systems to reduce energy used by HVAC systems, cut emissions and improve economy.

Yesterday we reported on Jaguar Land Rover’s efforts to improve electric and hybrid tech, and now we get news that JLR are also working hard to reduce the energy cost of heating and cooling drivers and passengers.

Current heating, ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems are very energy hungry as they work to heat or cool the stream of air entering the cabin and keep occupants comfortable, so if a way can be found to cut the energy used by HVAC systems there are big potential benefits for all cars.

To that end, JLR are busy developing two new systems to mitigate energy use in HVAC systems – Warm Air Blanket and Air Bubble.

Air Bubble is JLR’s name for a system that keeps a single bubble of air for the cabin – instead of constantly drawing in fresh air – and keeps it at the temperature required, using a filter in the boot to remove CO₂, moisture and particulates, resulting in big energy savings.

Warm Air Blanket is JLR’s attempt to create a ‘micro-climate’ for each occupant, with warm or cold air flowing through the seats and infra-red panels inside sun visors, door tops, glove box and side of the transmission tunnel meaning energy is only expended as needed for each individual.

A normal HVAC system draws 8-10kW from the battery, which can reduce the range of a BEV by up to 40 per cent, and normal Air Con can reduce economy in an ICE car by up to 20 per cent. (Source: https://filterbuy.com/air-filters/20x25x1/)  JLR reckon the savings in energy from these innovations could see energy consumption halved; a useful economy boost for ICE cars, but a big deal for BEVs and Hybrids where range could improve by 40 per cent.

Dr Wolfgang Epple, JLR’s R&D boss, said:

Today’s HVAC systems can draw 8-10kW from an electric vehicle battery, enough to reduce the range by up to 40 per cent, while air conditioning can reduce the range of an internal combustion engine by up to 20 per cent.

So to improve the fuel economy and emissions of internal combustion engines and to enhance the range of a future BEV, we have been rethinking the thermal management of a vehicle cabin. We are developing new methods of heating and cooling the cabin, to achieve substantial reductions in energy consumption.