A million R744 EV heat pumps!

Automotive thermal management company Hanon Systems has has manufactured its millionth electric R744 (carbon dioxide) compressor for EVs.

The R744 compressors, which have been in high-volume production at the company’s Palmela plant in Portugal since 2019, are at the core of energy-efficient heating and cooling systems used in modern electric cars.

“Surpassing 1 million units in R744 electric compressor production is a testament to our leadership in eco-friendly technology and marks a significant milestone in our commitment to a sustainable future,” said Hanon Systems vice chair and CEO Soo-il Lee.

Electric and hybrid vehicles require purpose-built systems for cabin comfort and thermal management.

Hanon’s eCompressor has an onboard electric motor and integrated power electronics that drive a scroll compressor, enabling it to operate independently from a hybrid’s combustion engine, providing heating and cooling even when the vehicle is stationary.

Hanon Systems first began supplying R744 compressors to the Volkswagen Group in 2020 for use in its MEB platform – a modular architecture underpinning a wide range of electric models, including the Volkswagen ID series, Audi Q4 E-Tron, Cupra Born and Skoda Enyaq.

Since then, the company’s role in Volkswagen’s supply chain has expanded to include components such as TX valves, internal heat exchangers and accumulators.

In its submission to the European PFAS restriction proposal discussion paper, Volkswagen committed to equipping all battery electric vehicles sold in Europe with R744-based thermal management systems by 2030 but internal combustion engine models (including hybrids) will not follow until mid-2034 (by which point internal combustion engines may be in legislated phase-out across the EU).

The German auto-maker recognises the energy efficiency benefits of adopting heat pumps across its EV line-up.

“The power requirement for heating the interior (of an EV) at exterior temperatures of less than 0°C is up to 40 per cent less than in a vehicle without an energy-efficient heat pump,” Volkswagen claims on its website. 

Hanon Systems first reached the 500,000-unit milestone in January 2024, before making the jump to more than a million units in less than two years.

The company credits its long-standing expertise in automotive thermal solutions and its early leadership in CO₂ technologies for this rapid growth.

As the company noted, “certain auto-makers, primarily in Europe,” favour R744-based systems due to their “improved” heating performance, and with heat pump systems becoming increasingly standard in battery electric vehicles, demand for low-GWP, PFAS-free R744-based components is expected to keep growing.

“We take great pride serving as a trusted supplier and to be among the first to introduce a portfolio of R744 thermal solutions for electrified vehicles, which supports our company’s commitment to create a clean energy future,” said Hanon Systems president and co-CEO Nurdal Kücükkaya.