Winter heating 2023 vs 2024

[gbl@23]

Looking to purchase a 2023 or newer Lightning and would love to know how the heating compares between a '23 and a '24. I read somewhere that the '24's and newer got new heat pumps. Is the the vehicle good in Canadian (Ontario) winters? Thanks.

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[Firn]

Energy used and range aside...

I LOVE the heat in my 23. If I had to get another I might buy a used 23 because of it. Heat arrives very very quick and gets to actual hot air quickly. Also, no noise at all from the heater. The AC isn't loud in the summer, but quite noticeably there, I much prefer not having that noise when heating.

With cold weather bringing increased air resistance and reduced battery capacity already (things a heat pump doesn't help) i don't know how much of an actual difference in range the heat pump makes.

Edit: actually, I'm in the garage and lot when the truck is charging while cold, I really don't want that noise in there with me.

 

[Pod]

There were a few updates that I think really addressed heating quickness. I find my 23 is pretty quick to heat up. Combined with the seat heater, it is great .

 

[sdingeldein]

My 23 is lightning quick to heat up.

 

[djwildstar]

Looking to purchase a 2023 or newer Lightning and would love to know how the heating compares between a '23 and a '24. I read somewhere that the '24's and newer got new heat pumps.

Yes, the 2024 and 2025 Lightnings (all trims) have heat pumps, while the 2022 and 2023 trucks have resistive heat only. From all reports, the resistive heat delivers warmer air faster than the heat pump, while the heat pump system uses less energy.

From all reports, heat pumps do not make a significant difference in cold-weather range in the Lightning. Yes, the heat pump is more-efficient than resistive heating. However, cold-weather range has more to do with air density and battery temperature -- and the type of heating system doesn't change either of those factors.

Finally, heat pump systems are most-efficient when the outside temperatures are above 4C, but still deliver useful heat down to about -25C. At temperatures below that, you'll be using resistive heat regardless.

Heat pumps became a checklist items for EVs after Tesla introduced heat pumps in 2020-2021. From all reports, the earlier Tesla thermal design was pretty inefficient, so cold-weather performance suffered. When the heat pumps were added, Tesla re-engineered the thermal management of their vehicles with an eye towards efficiency, and the change was pretty dramatic: the heat-pump-equipped vehicles were much-more efficient in cold weather.

From this, the automotive press (and many car-buyers) assumed that a heat pump was going to dramatically improve the cold-weather performance of any EV, and those without it were going to suffer. This isn't the case with the Lightning: the 2022-2023 thermal engineering was already pretty good, so adding a heat pump provides a relatively marginal improvement.

 

[blb228]

The "heat" in my 2024 Flash (heat pump) leaves a lot to be desired. The HVAC system itself is actually a bit disappointing. Cooling not as much as heating though- It doesn't seem to be consistent; when it reaches temperature sometimes, it's like it forgets the set point and lets the vehicle cool down so much that ice forms on the windows, and rather quickly as well. I'd trade a little efficiency for better heat/HVAC and no loud heat pump running the majority of the time the HVAC is operating..... but maybe there's optimal settings I haven't found yet-

 

[Adventureboy]

The heat in my 2023 is excellent even down to -18°F (that's my coldest experience last week in 3 years). I see a hit on startup as it warms the cabin and battery and I expect that might be less with the heat pump. Most of that hit draws from the EVSE if I start climate while plugged in.

My understanding is that the colder it gets, the lower the efficiency difference is between resistance heating and heat pump.

 

[potato]

I like the resistive heat on my 23. It's fine in the cold - have to manually encourage it to direct enough air to keep the windows clear, but the heater can keep up. At least down to -30 C or so. Can't recall if I've driven in colder. Haven't experienced the heat pump to compare.

My thought about heat pumps in general is that they make a bigger difference when the vehicle itself is more efficient. Saving a couple of kW (resistive might take 3 or 4 kW in the cold; driving the heat pump probably only 1 or 2) makes a much bigger difference, proportionately, when you're in an aerodynamic car that's using 20 kW for propulsion vs our brick-shaped objects using 30 or 35. Low speed around town is probably where the heat pump would shine, but nobody really cares much about efficiency except when it impacts range at highway speeds.

Guess that doesn't help your question about whether the 24-up are good in the cold. Hopefully some owners with the heat pump can add more info.

 

[Adventureboy]

My thought about heat pumps in general is that they make a bigger difference when the vehicle itself is more efficient. Saving a couple of kW (resistive might take 3 or 4 kW in the cold; driving the heat pump probably only 1 or 2) makes a much bigger difference, proportionately, when you're in an aerodynamic car that's using 20 kW for propulsion vs our brick-shaped objects using 30 or 35.

I think this sums it up.

 

[P-38]

My 24 does fine in cold, only have personal experience down to -10 F but it still heated up fine. It is blowing warmish air after I back out of garage and travel 1000ft. Then hot by 2000 ft.

Compared to my Toyota highlander with a V6 that takes 4 miles before I start to get warm air and 10 miles before it's actually hot air.

I would go with heat pump if you have idling time (like waiting for kids to get done with practice or waiting in a pickup line)

 

[Athrun88]

24 Lariat, no issues with heat or AC overall. Today is -15C here and I drove all day at 23.5C, heat on, vents to floor only. Only issue I have sometimes is the window fogging up. Other than that, heat pump works great.

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