Rolls-Royce selects Hanon Systems as supplier for Spectre EV’s heat control

Rolls-Royce Spectre. [Courtesy of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars]

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, a luxury brand under BMW Group, has chosen South Korea’s Hanon Systems as the key supplier for the essential heat management components in its inaugural electric vehicle, Spectre.

Hanon Systems said on Tuesday that it is already supplying electric compressors and electric water pumps to the Rolls-Royce Spectre. Both are considered critical heat management components that significantly influence the energy efficiency and safety of EVs. The electric compressor, a vital device for air conditioning, circulates the refrigerant to maintain the battery pack at a safe operating temperature in EVs. The electric water pump also circulates coolant to ensure that key components like the battery pack and motor operate within a designated temperature range.

By incorporating Hanon Systems’ products into its first electric car, Rolls-Royce has acknowledged Hanon Systems’ quality competitiveness in the field of heat management systems within the global luxury car industry.

The domestic price of the Rolls-Royce Spectre is approximately 620 million won ($465,000).

While heat management systems in internal combustion engine vehicles had relatively simple functions such as indoor heating and engine cooling, their importance has escalated in EVs.

Heat management systems in electric cars are responsible for indoor cooling using refrigerants, maintaining a steady temperature to enhance battery energy efficiency, and extending driving range. Currently, two prominent companies are leading the way in the EV heat management sector: Denso, affiliated with Toyota, and Hanon Systems.

Hanon Systems aims to achieve environmentally-friendly vehicle-related orders of $1.5 billion this year. The company plans to increase the share of revenue from green car-related sales in its total revenue from last year’s 25 percent to 40 percent by 2025.