Volkswagen cites supply chain woes as the main reason for its lack of heat pumps.
If you’re in line for a Volkswagen ID.4, it may be missing an important feature to drivers in climates that regularly experience cold – a heat pump. In a story originally reported by Drive Tesla Canada, a VW ID.4 reservation holder told the outlet that Volkswagen would be shipping their specific ID.4 without a heat pump. The reservation holder wouldn’t be getting any money returned in hand, but the new invoice will have the item removed, reflecting the lower price the reservation holder will need to pay.
This only affects Canadian ID.4 buyers; the U.S. market ID.4 does not come with a heat pump. For those not in the know, a heat pump essentially is a reverse air conditioner; it moves warm air from the outside and pumps it in the inside. The result is a more efficient heater that uses less energy compared to the purely electric heaters found in models without the heat pump. The use of a heat pump means more range in cold weather.
The ID.4’s lack of a heat pump isn’t just affecting the ID.4; Audi has also canceled the heat pump on the mechanically related Q4 E-Tron. Both models cite the semiconductor supply chain shortage as why the option has been removed. Audi has given a $1,000 CAD credit to models that were initially supposed to have the option.
Instead of the heat pump, the affected Q4 E-Trons and Volkswagen ID.4’s will come with a resistive heater.
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