Integration of micro-CHP units into BEVs — Influence on the overall efficiency, emissions and the electric driving range

The increasing electrification of electric drive trains leads to new challenges concerning automotive system design. Since no or only a little amount of useable waste heat is available on a sufficiently high temperature level the passenger cabin heating directly influences the electric driving range for battery electric vehicles (BEVs). The scope of the paper is to analyze the integration of micro-combined heat and power (CHP) units into BEVs providing heating energy in an efficient way. Both the influence on the electric driving range as well as the overall energy efficiency in terms of primary energy and CO₂ emissions is investigated and compared to other heating systems for BEVs.