Hanon Systems Develops 4th Generation Heat Pump System... Installed in Kia EV3

Hanon Systems, a global automotive thermal energy management solutions company, announced that it has developed the world's first 4th generation heat pump system, a core component of electric vehicle thermal management. The newly developed heat pump system by Hanon Systems was first installed in the Kia EV3, which was launched in July.

Hanon Systems' 4th generation heat pump system is the first to apply a parallel heat source recovery method that simultaneously utilizes heat from outside air and waste heat generated from the motor and battery. The recovered heat is used for heating, cooling, and battery temperature management, resulting in an extended driving range for electric vehicles.

Through the development of this modular heat pump system, numerous new patents have also been secured. The main components, the Refrigerant Control Module (RCM) and the Coolant Control Module (CCM), are managed by an integrated controller, enabling unified management of the entire thermal management system.

Hanon Systems first mass-produced a heat pump system with waste heat recovery in 2015. The 2nd generation heat pump, mass-produced in 2018, added battery thermal management functions to complete the first integrated thermal management system. The 3rd generation developed in 2021 was applied to the first 800V system electric vehicle dedicated platform.

The 4th generation heat pump system was first applied to the Kia EV3 and plans to expand production bases from Korea to the United States and Europe.

Yunho Wang, Vice President of Hanon Systems Research Institute (AP Innovation Center), said, "Through close collaboration with our customers, we were able to proactively develop the world's first new technology. This will contribute to enhancing the driving experience of electric vehicle users of our customers."