To investigate the heating performance of an electric vehicle heat pump air conditioning system at low temperature

an experimental platform for the air source heat pump air conditioning system was set up in this study to experimentally determine the heating performance of an electric vehicle heat pump air conditioning system with ambient temperature of ?10 ℃ to 0 ℃. The influences of the compressor speed (2 000–5 000 r/min)

air inlet volume (300–400 m3/h)

and ambient temperature on the performance of the system were analyzed. Finally

a formula was derived to estimate the range of the electric vehicle after using the air conditioning system. The results show that with an increase in compressor speed

the compressor discharge pressure and temperature

as well as the heat produced by the compressor

somewhat increase; however

the COP of the system decreases. When the compressor speed and ambient temperature are kept unchanged

the inlet air volume of the air conditioning box increases from 300 m3/h to 400 m3/h

heat production increases by 13.3%–26.0% and the COP increases by 0.03–0.80. Under other constant conditions

when the ambient temperature rises from ?10 ℃ to 0 ℃

the heat produced by the heat pump air-conditioning system increases by 60.9%–71.0% and the COP increases by 0.51–0.63. According to the formula

when the ambient temperature is ?10 ℃ to 0 ℃

the range of the heat pump air conditioning system can be improved by 13.5%–20.8% compared with the condition of same heating capacity

using a PTC heater.