There’s a simple rule with heat pumps. Don’t ever pay extra to get one. If it comes as standard, like on the Ioniq, then it’s whatever. On the other hand, you’ll never recuperate the money you have to pay for it. People here quote 10% more range, that’s false. What Car did an actual test (with the ID7, so that applies to all VAG EVs, including Skoda etc), in winter conditions, and found that both cars being equal, a heat pump adds 5.2% efficiency, or in terms of actual numbers, a non-heat pump ID7 managed 254 miles, the heat pump equipped ID7 managed 268. This is beyond negligible, you don’t plan your trips at the ragged edge of your available mileage. More importantly though, a heat pump (if not standard) will set you back around £1000-£1100. You’ll need to drive around 85000 miles(!) to amortise that, assuming 79p/kwh at a public charger. If you’re charging from home, you’d need even more miles. On an EV tariff, we’re talking close to a million miles (around 800000), for the 5% difference in efficiency to make a £1000 difference. And these are real numbers, not the average 10-15% quoted by “journalists” parroting manufacturer claims. And while someone here was correct, that a heat pump in summer can also be used for cooling – the difference becomes even more negligible, since heat pumps are less efficient at cooling, so it’s even less than 5.2%. Objectively, you don’t need to ever waste a thought for heat pumps. It’s so little difference that you could argue that whatever you’re saving, you’re losing in increased tyre wear through the added 40lbs weight that the average heat pump weighs. Brings us back to “if your car comes with one, it’s whatever – otherwise, don’t bother”.
How interesting, our Suzuki Across has a heat pump as standard never gave it a second thought, would I pay extra or upgrade to a dearer model just for a heat pump, definite no.
Unfortunately I have suffered a brain injury and occasionally I get confused and often say the wrong thing.