Would you trade your frunk for a heat pump?

[BadgerGreg]

Heat pumps are vastly overrated. I'll take the frunk and the resistive heater, thankyouverymuch.

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[Kamuelaflyer]

Heat pumps are not a panacea. Since I live in in a temperate climate where winter overnight lows never get below the upper 30’s, I’m quite content with the current system. YMMV.

 

[ARK]

Why would we need to sacrifice the frunk for the heat pump? Tesla offers both, I don't understand this choice.

I would just choose the cost savings in not having a heat pump versus putting one in, an approach some other manufacturers have taken by having the heat pump as a standalone option.

Having two different ways to heat the cabin in your car is simply overkill in large parts of the country.

 

[SnBGC]

I would just choose the cost savings in not having a heat pump versus putting one in, an approach some other manufacturers have taken by having the heat pump as a standalone option.

Having two different ways to heat the cabin in your car is simply overkill in large parts of the country.

Agreed. For me the current heating system works great and I have no need for anything more complicated or expensive. Offering as an extra price option is a reasonable idea though. These are still pretty much made to order vehicles for the most part so it could be accomplished if the need was there and validated.

 

[dtbaker61]

Could’t that be done with the existing air conditioning system if Ford wanted to? I mean, a heat pump in cooling mode is basically an air conditioner, no?

correct.... I'd be interested in more BTU capacity in BOTH heating and cooling.... not only for the cabin, but for the battery/motor/inverter loops

a separate HP could be plumbed such that it might be cooling the battery loop, dumping the hot exhaust air to the cabin loop with seperate pump in heat mode when 'performance driving' in the winter for instance.

 

[dtbaker61]

I would just choose the cost savings in not having a heat pump versus putting one in, an approach some other manufacturers have taken by having the heat pump as a standalone option.

Having two different ways to heat the cabin in your car is simply overkill in large parts of the country.

I don't need more heat.... but I WOULD be interested in more powerful cooling. If there were a 'Performance HP' optimized for cooling.... even if it were an aftermarket option it might have some market.

 

[ARK]

I don't need more heat.... but I WOULD be interested in more powerful cooling. If there were a 'Performance HP' optimized for cooling.... even if it were an aftermarket option it might have some market.

I’ve actually been surprised at how powerful the Mach-E’s a/c is. Before taking delivery, I thought it would be some efficiency unit that wouldn’t be particularly effective, but it was extremely potent throughout last summer at least around Los Angeles.

 

[dtbaker61]

I’ve actually been surprised at how powerful the Mach-E’s a/c is. Before taking delivery, I thought it would be some efficiency unit that wouldn’t be particularly effective, but it was extremely potent throughout last summer at least around Los Angeles.

I've found the cabin a/c fine.... I'm talking mostly about added capacity to chill the motor/inverter/battery loop.

 

[benk016]

Where does that cutoff lie? Ability to hold 1 grocery bag? 1 can of V8? 1 shrimp? When does it lose its usability?

I'm not sure what that cutoff would be. I don't use the frunk a whole lot, but I do like having it. I typically put leftovers from going out to eat in there, so it doesn't smell up the inside of the car. As long As it was still usable, I'd be happy with that.

So maybe I'd be willing to give up 25% of the capacity?

Ultimately, I would prefer to not lose any of it though. I think they could get it in there without losing space. Technically I would think they could just replace the current AC system with a heat pump and probably not lose any space.

 

[Lady Anne]

I haven’t been very excited about the heating system in our MME. One of the only issues I have with the car! I have been highly discouraging my son from purchasing a Lightning for this very reason, he’s in Alaska so this is serious stuff. But being a true Alaskan he has a solution for this. If it works on a boat it ought to be fine in a pickup.

 

[phil]

These two features have just about zero value to me. Keep 'em both!

 

[dml105]

modern heat pumps work pretty efficiently down to -4 deg F for heating.

the heat pump that you can shrink down to car size? I dunno.

Now granted, my heat pump was selected for use in Virginia, not Yellowknife. Mine definitely DOES NOT work below 20 degrees.

 

[Electric Goat]

I'd give up my frunk for more than 5 seconds of full power ?? but I'd rather have the frunk over a heat pump.

 

[Gimme_my_MME]

I haven’t been very excited about the heating system in our MME. One of the only issues I have with the car! I have been highly discouraging my son from purchasing a Lightning for this very reason, he’s in Alaska so this is serious stuff. But being a true Alaskan he has a solution for this. If it works on a boat it ought to be fine in a pickup.

What are we looking at?
I mean I if course know exactly what it is.
I'm just asking for everyone else

 

[v8318cid]

I'm sure every manufacturer has different methods for implementation. Using the Nissan LEAF as a reference here, though, plumbing-wise there isn't a huge difference between the heat pump and standard A/C. The most significant difference is the presence of two diverter valves and a second condenser located in the dash in line with the evaporator. No doubt the inclusion of active thermal management for the battery in the case of the Mach-E would complicate this a bit, but I suspect based upon my own observations of the space below the frunk there would be adequate room for a few additional components (mostly hoses) to support a heat pump. No need to give up the frunk (not that I ever use it, but, ¿por que no las dos?).

Me personally, I'd prefer a heat pump setup with a resistance heater as backup. Like some here, it seldom gets cold enough here to prevent efficient use of a heat pump.

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