What is the function of the PTC heater in new energy vehicles?
3 Answers
New energy vehicle PTC is a ceramic heater with the advantages of low thermal resistance and high heat exchange efficiency. Composition and working principle of new energy vehicle PTC heater: It adopts PTCR thermistor ceramic elements, formed by combining geometric single pieces and high-temperature bonding with corrugated aluminum heat dissipation strips; after electrification, it self-heats and increases resistance to enter the transition zone, maintaining a constant temperature value that is essentially independent of ambient temperature. Advantages of new energy vehicle PTC heater: Fast heating, denser aluminum fins for higher thermal efficiency; healthy, environmentally friendly, ultra-long lifespan, durable, and oxidation-resistant; service life can reach 6000 hours.
My electric car also has this thing. Simply put, a PTC heater is like an electric car's heating pad. Traditional gasoline-powered cars can use engine waste heat for warmth, but electric vehicles don't have engines, so in winter, the only option for heating is the PTC heater. It works on the principle of electrical resistance heating—when current passes through special ceramic materials, they heat up, and a fan blows the warm air into the cabin. What I like most is that it heats up much faster than a heat pump AC. In sub-zero temperatures, it can produce warm air in just five minutes. The downside, though, is that it's a huge power drain. Once, I drove on the highway with the heater on in winter, and my range dropped by 30%. Fortunately, newer models now feature zoned temperature control, automatically turning off heating on the passenger side if no one is sitting there, which saves power and is quite considerate.
As an electric vehicle driver who frequently takes long trips, I rely quite a bit on the PTC heater. When the weather turns cold and I turn on the AC, it's actually this device that kicks in. It uses special ceramic materials to convert electrical energy into heat, providing direct and stable heating—unlike gasoline cars that need to wait for the engine to warm up. A practical tip is to turn on the seat heater first before activating the PTC in cold starts; this warms the body first, allowing you to use lower fan settings and save power. However, it struggles in extreme cold below -15°C—last time, while picking up my daughter from school, my range dropped by 30%. Still, it's better than catching a cold.
