Agritechnica 2023:
Electric Heating and Air-
Conditioning Technology

Under the “Cool. Heat. Electrify. Repeat” motto, the systems partner for electromobility is exhibiting conventional air-conditioning technology as well as the option of intelligently combining individual electrical components to form a scalable thermal management system for special-purpose vehicles.

Gilching, November 13, 2023 – From classic caterpillar tractors right through to electric tractors: At Agritechnica (Hall 17, Booth 17D28) from November 12 to 18, Webasto will be delivering the right components for the electrification, safety and air conditioning of working machines with its comprehensive range of heating and cooling solutions along with its battery and thermal management systems.

Pioneering electric heating

The new models of its High-Voltage Heater allow Webasto to offer efficient electric heating solutions for all conceivable application scenarios. The HVH 100 Compact and the HVH 100 Compact+ each offer a heat output of 10 kilowatts. With a height of just 7 centimeters, they are smaller than a DIN A4 sheet of paper and designed to operate at a voltage range of between 250 and 880 volts. Communication takes place via LIN bus (Local Interconnect Network), which facilitates the heater’s technical integration into the vehicle.

The HVH 100 Compact+ models with a heat output of 10 kilowatts and the HVH 120 with an output of 12 kilowatts are moreover compatible with the CAN-protocol, which facilitates communication between electric control units. Their compact housing and flexible connectivity options offer manufacturers many options for easily integrating the units into their vehicles. Thanks to precise and virtually stepless control of the maximum output and target temperature, the High-Voltage Heaters operate highly efficiency.

A special heating layer bonded onto the heat exchanger means that they not only deliver heat at the touch of a button, but can also be safely discharged in a fraction of a second by actively discharging the intermediate circuit capacitors. Webasto’s High-Voltage Heaters are protected against cyber attacks in accordance with ISO 21434 while functional safety is ensured in accordance with ISO 26262. Webasto specifies a service life of at least 15,000 hours or 15 years for its electric heaters.

Heating and air conditioning technology from a single source

Webasto is exhibiting its modular eCabin concept for electrically air-conditioned driver’s cabs in special-purpose vehicles. The eCabin is a scalable system solution consisting of electric heating and cooling technology that ensures a comfortable year-round climate for the cab’s crew. In a pioneering move, the company is combining a range of individual electrical components to form a standardized modular system capable of adapting the eCabin to the heating and cooling requirements of the respective vehicle type. The scalable system’s flexible design and control options together with its simple implementation also promise manufacturers rapid vehicle integration for both series production and the retrofit business.

Moreover, the plug-and-play electric Battery Thermal Management (eBTM) thermal management solution maintains the traction batteries of special-purpose electric vehicles at their ideal operating temperature in both summer and winter. The eBTM cools traction batteries with an overall capacity of up to 210 kW and is compatible with Webasto’s standard battery system as well as competing ones. Combining the eCabin and eBTM allows Webasto to offer vehicle manufacturers a comprehensive modular system for electrification projects.

Compact air-conditioning technology for conventional applications

Webasto also offers a comprehensive range of air conditioning technologies for installation in conventional combustion engine vehicles. The low-profile Webasto SP80 is an HVAC unit that is suitable for installation beneath the vehicle roof, for example. It heats and cools agricultural machinery with a capacity of 6.6 kW and 7.0 kW respectively. Weighing just 7 kilograms and measuring 80 millimeters in height, it is the perfect solution for space-saving vehicle cab integration.

Full control over air filters

Webasto is also exhibiting its Safety Box, a compact testing unit that continuously measures the air pressure and fresh air flow in the driver’s cab and alerts the crew to malfunctioning air filter systems (Cat 4). The device warns the crew via green and red status LEDs as soon as the air pressure or fresh air flow in the driver’s cab deviates from the norm and if the cab’s air could potentially be contaminated. The Safety Box is designed for use in agricultural machines, for example, and protects personnel against exposure to air impurities such as high levels of ammonia, pesticides, and other hazardous substances. This allows Webasto to meet the requirements of DIN standard EN 15695, which defines how air in driver’s cabs must be tested and filtered, but does not yet address the functional safety of air filters in everyday working life.

“At Agritechnica 2023, Webasto is underpinning its corporate identity as a systems partner for e-mobility. Our Standard Battery System is already powering a large number of electric special-purpose vehicles. It is only logical for us to add fully comprehensive thermal management solutions for agricultural machines to our portfolio. This will allow us to increase both performance and on-board comfort,” comments Heike Niehues, Executive Vice President Webasto Customized Solutions. “On the one hand, our customers benefit from optimally matched components and corresponding expertise in the field of electrification, while on the other, we provide a broad range of services to closely support customers’ electrification projects right from the outset.”