How Do Heaters Work In Tesla’s?

The Difference Comes Down To The Engine

Photo courtesy of Unsplash

Traditional cars use combustion engines to not only power the vehicle but also to heat the cabin of the vehicle. Heat generated from the engine makes it possible to have a warm, cozy interior during colder weather.

How does an internal combustion engine work in a traditional car?

Internal combustion engines are able to propel a car because it is a heat engine. By using burning gasoline which fuels a traditional car, it creates torque. Torque is then applied to the wheels to make the car move.

A traditional car engine also contains cylinders that contain pistons, anywhere from 2–12 cylinders are in your typical internal combustion engine vehicle. These pistons then move up and down which turns the engine’s crankshaft that moves the engine’s wheels.

The pistons are powered by essentially miniature explosions caused from the heating of the gasoline. While powerful, these explosions are not especially efficient. Around one-third of the heat created by an internal combustion engine is essentially “lost heat” which is then filtered to the vehicle’s coolant system.

Lost heat in traditional vehicles is then used to power the heating system which keeps…