Parking AC with Heat Pump Option

• Table of Contents

1. How heat pump parking AC works
2. Capacity and COP at typical ambient
3. When heat pump variant makes sense
4. Power draw — heating mode
5. Recommended models with heat pump option
6. Combined heat pump + diesel heater for full coverage

Heat pump parking AC variants reverse the refrigerant cycle to deliver moderate heating from the battery. They are attractive for mild climates where overnight lows are 0–10°C and a full diesel heater is overkill. Below 0°C ambient, COP drops sharply and a diesel heater becomes more efficient.

How heat pump parking AC works

Reversing valve in the refrigerant circuit swaps evaporator and condenser roles. The 'outdoor' coil absorbs heat from ambient air; the 'indoor' coil releases heat into the cab. Same compressor, fans and battery system as cooling mode.

Capacity and COP at typical ambient

Heating capacity: ~80% of cooling capacity at 7°C ambient (COP 2.5–3.0). At -5°C, capacity drops to 50% (COP 1.8). At -15°C, system frosts and capacity collapses. Below 0°C continuous, a diesel heater is recommended.

When heat pump variant makes sense

Mediterranean coastal trucking. Coastal California and Pacific Northwest. Australian east coast. South-east US year-round. Mild EU spring/autumn shoulder seasons. Not recommended for Scandinavia, Canada, northern US winter.

Power draw — heating mode

Same compressor draw as cooling mode: 25–35A DC at 24V. A 280 Ah LiFePO4 supports 8–10 hours of heating in mild ambient — similar to cooling-mode duty cycle.

Recommended models with heat pump option

Vethy supplies heat pump variants on VS02 PRO 24V and VC 2000 24V platforms. Specify at order time — the field-conversion is not possible.

Combined heat pump + diesel heater for full coverage

Some fleets spec both: heat pump for mild shoulder-season heat, diesel heater for deep winter. The battery and AC remain the same; only a small diesel heater is added. Email sales@vethy.com or call +86-532-87729918 for combined heating + cooling kits, solar/shore-power packages and CIF pricing within 24 hours.

Frequently asked questions

Can a heat pump replace my diesel night heater?

Only in mild climates with lows above 0°C. Below 0°C, COP drops and capacity is inadequate.

Does the heat pump need more battery capacity than cooling?

Similar — heating power draw matches cooling draw. Same battery bank sizing applies.

Is the heat pump variant more expensive?

Adds approximately $250–$400 to the parking AC hardware cost.

Can I retrofit heat pump to my existing parking AC?

No — the reversing valve must be factory-installed. Specify at order time.

How loud is the heat pump in heating mode?

Same as cooling mode: 48–55 dB(A) steady-state, 42–46 dB(A) in sleep mode.

Does Vethy supply heat pump variants to North America and EU?

Yes — heat pump variants on VS02 PRO and VC 2000 platforms. Email sales@vethy.com or call +86-532-87729918 for combined heating + cooling kits, solar/shore-power packages and CIF pricing within 24 hours.