Electric vehicle heating technologies mainly include PTC heaters, thick-film heaters, and thin-film heaters. Currently, PTC heating technology is highly mature in the market, while thick-film and thin-film heating technologies are considered new innovations. However, as the 800V high-voltage platform becomes the future trend in the industry, the advantages of thick-film and thin-film heating technologies are becoming more apparent, with the potential to become the next mainstream heating technologies.
PTC heaters use PTC ceramic heating elements made from barium titanate, doped with other polycrystalline ceramic materials. When powered, the PTC thermistor heats itself, causing the resistance to enter a transition zone where the current decreases as the voltage increases, leading to a constant power output. The PTC heater reaches thermal equilibrium and maintains a stable temperature. PTC heaters are known for their self-limiting power feature, with the voltage effect becoming more pronounced at higher voltages. Based on current industry standards, the standard factory voltage test for PTC heaters is usually conducted at 500V, which introduces a potential risk of voltage breakdown.
Thick-film heaters utilize a thick-film printing process, where resistance materials are screen-printed onto a thermally conductive insulating layer and then sintered in a furnace. The resistance value is fine-tuned using laser trimming technology. The thickness of the thick film ranges from 2 to 25 μm, and by using different resistivity pastes, a wide range of resistance values can be achieved. However, the resolution of the lines is relatively poor, ranging from 125 to 250 μm. The conductors created through the thick-film printing process are non-homogeneous, and the bonding of leads can be affected by impurities in the paste.
Thin-film heaters use vacuum deposition to form a thin film on the substrate's surface, and circuits are created through photolithography. The film thickness can be precisely controlled within a range of 5 to 2.5 nm, with resistive materials limited to low resistivity materials like NiCr and TaN. The line resolution is much finer, ranging from 2.52 to 25 μm, and the conductors are homogeneous, resulting in better lead bonding performance.
China Electric Vehicle PTC Heaters Market Size and Forecast Analysis
According to DIResearch, the market size of PTC heaters for electric vehicles in China is projected to reach CNY 4.841 billion in 2024, marking a 20.09% increase compared to 2023. By 2030, the market is expected to grow to CNY 9.403 billion, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.32% from 2025 to 2030. As a crucial component of thermal management in electric vehicles, PTC heaters are benefiting from the rapid development of the global and Chinese electric vehicle industries, positioning this sector as a highly promising niche market.
Source: IIndustry Expert Interviews and DIResearch, 2024
China Electric Vehicle PTC Heaters Market Competitive Landscape
The Chinese electric vehicle PTC heater market is relatively concentrated, with leading companies including Xiaogan Huagong Gaoli Electronic Co., Ltd., Weihai Kebo Automotive Electronics Co., Ltd., Shanghai Fantang Electronic Co., Ltd., Zhenjiang Dongfang Electric Heating Technology Co., Ltd., Webasto Group, BorgWarner, Jiangsu Chaoli Electric Appliance Co., Ltd., Suzhou Xinye Electronics Co., Ltd., Eberspächer, Zhenjiang Helmholtz Heat Transfer Transmission Systems Co., Ltd., and Guangdong Zhengyang Sensor Technology Co., Ltd.
Xiaogan Huagong Gaoli Electronic Co., Ltd. holds a dominant position in the domestic market, generating over CNY 2.1 billion in PTC heater revenue in 2023, representing 56.6% of the market's sales volume. Other mid-sized companies such as Weihai Kebo Automotive Electronics Co., Ltd., Shanghai Fantang Electronic Co., Ltd., and Zhenjiang Dongfang Electric Heating Technology Co., Ltd. have automotive electric heater revenues between CNY 300 million to 500 million, collectively accounting for 30.8% of the sales market share.
China Electric Vehicle PTC Heaters Industry Trends and Innovation
High Efficiency and Low Energy Consumption Technologies: As the electric vehicle (EV) market continues to grow, driven especially by national policies and environmental regulations, the demand for efficient thermal management systems is expected to increase. As a core component of thermal management, the demand for PTC heaters is projected to rise steadily. The widespread adoption of EVs in cold northern regions further emphasizes the need for reliable and efficient heating systems, which will drive the expansion of PTC heaters in electric vehicles.
Integrated and Lightweight Design: Lightweight design is one of the key factors in improving the driving range of EVs. In the future, electric heating technologies will move towards integrated designs, combining heating functions with other onboard systems such as air conditioning and battery management to reduce complexity and weight. This integrated design not only saves space but also enhances overall system performance and reliability. For example, an integrated heater can perform multiple functions within a single module, reducing the overall weight and cost.
Intelligent and Networked Applications: Smart technology will become a key development direction for electric vehicle heating systems in the future. By connecting with onboard intelligent systems, heaters can be remotely controlled and monitored, enhancing the user experience. Future electric heaters may also be equipped with AI algorithms, allowing them to learn driver habits and environmental conditions to optimize heating modes and schedules. Additionally, integration with vehicle network technology can enable the heater to work in tandem with the vehicle's energy management system, improving overall energy efficiency and safety.
For details, please refer to the report "Global EV PTC Heaters Competitive Landscape Professional Research Report 2024"
Global Key Manufacturers of EV PTC Heaters Include:
Xiaogan Huagong Gaoli Electron
Weihai Kebole Automobile Electronics
Shanghai Fengtian Electronic
Zhenjiang Dongfang Electric Heating Technology
Webasto Group
BorgWarner
Jiangsu Chaoli Electric
DBK Group
Woory Corporation
Suzhou Xinye Electronic
Eberspächer
Zhenjiang Heimhoz Heat Transfer Transmission System
KUS Technology Corporation
EV PTC Heaters Product Segment Include:
PTC Water Heaters
PTC Air Heaters
Other Electric Heaters
EV PTC Heaters Product Application Include:
Pure Electric Vehicles (BEVs)
Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs)
Chapter Scope
Chapter 1: Product Research Range, Product Types and Applications, Market Overview, Market Situation and Trends
Chapter 2: Global EV PTC Heaters Industry PESTEL Analysis
Chapter 3: Global EV PTC Heaters Industry Porter’s Five Forces Analysis
Chapter 4: Global EV PTC Heaters Major Regional Market Size (Revenue, Sales, Price) and Forecast Analysis
Chapter 5: Global EV PTC Heaters Market Size and Forecast by Type and Application Analysis
Chapter 6: North America EV PTC Heaters Competitive Analysis (Market Size, Key Players and Market Share, Product Type and Application Segment Analysis, Countries Analysis)
Chapter 7: Europe EV PTC Heaters Competitive Analysis (Market Size, Key Players and Market Share, Product Type and Application Segment Analysis, Countries Analysis)
Chapter 8: China EV PTC Heaters Competitive Analysis (Market Size, Key Players and Market Share, Product Type and Application Segment Analysis, Countries Analysis)
Chapter 9: APAC (Excl. China) EV PTC Heaters Competitive Analysis (Market Size, Key Players and Market Share, Product Type and Application Segment Analysis, Countries Analysis)
Chapter 10: Latin America EV PTC Heaters Competitive Analysis (Market Size, Key Players and Market Share, Product Type and Application Segment Analysis, Countries Analysis)
Chapter 11: Middle East and Africa EV PTC Heaters Competitive Analysis (Market Size, Key Players and Market Share, Product Type and Application Segment Analysis, Countries Analysis)
Chapter 12: Global EV PTC Heaters Competitive Analysis of Key Manufacturers (Sales, Revenue, Market Share, Price, Regional Distribution and Industry Concentration)
Chapter 13: Key Company Profiles (Product Portfolio, Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin)
Chapter 14: Industrial Chain Analysis, Include Raw Material Suppliers, Distributors and Customers
Chapter 15: Research Findings and Conclusion
Chapter 16: Methodology and Data Sources
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