Driven by surging winter heating demand in extreme cold regions and China’s “dual carbon” goals, the air-source heat pump industry has achieved a technological milestone. Chinese research teams and companies have successfully deployed EVI (Enhanced Vapor Injection) ultra-low temperature technology, enabling heat pumps to operate efficiently at -35°C with a Coefficient of Performance (COP) 30% higher than traditional models, offering an innovative solution to the global clean heating market.
Technological Innovation: From “Freezing Failure” to “Arctic Dominance”
Conventional heat pumps suffer from reduced heating capacity and severe frosting below -15°C, limiting their market penetration in northern China to under 15%. EVI technology enhances performance by injecting gaseous refrigerant mid-compression, reducing discharge temperature and pressure differentials to boost efficiency:
A company pioneered Continuous Vapor Injection (CVI) technology, achieving 360° continuous gas replenishment via check valves in the compressor cylinder. This enables stable heating at -35°C with a COP of 3.2 (+25% vs. traditional models). Its Ultra-Wide Frequency Silent Technology (8Hz–160Hz) cuts noise by 50%, catering to commercial and residential applications.
Another company integrated EVI with DC inverter control in its residential heat pump products, delivering 55°C hot water at -25°C with 40% higher heating capacity than conventional units. The system is deployed in schools and residences across Inner Mongolia and Heilongjiang.
A project case utilized circulating heat pump water heaters with EVI and multi-defrosting technologies to provide 24/7 constant-temperature hot water at -25°C, consuming just 25% of the energy of electric water heaters. The project serves as a benchmark for “zero-carbon campus infrastructure.”
Industrial Upgrade: From Component Innovation to System Integration
The proliferation of EVI technology is driving the heat pump industry toward system integration and intelligence:
Core Component Revolution: An institute’s R32 150CC variable-speed scroll compressor achieves -35°C heating via electromagnetic optimization and bionic pump design, winning the 2025 HPE China Innovation Award.
Efficiency Standard Upgrades: China’s new national standard raises the minimum COP requirement for northern heat pumps from 3.2 to 3.5, accelerating EVI adoption.
Smart Service Models: Leading firms launched AI-powered O&M systems that predict failures 48 hours in advance via IoT monitoring, reducing annual efficiency degradation from 3% to 0.8%.
Global Impact: China’s Technology Reshapes International Markets
Chinese EVI heat pump exports surged 58% YoY in H1 2025, capturing 43% of the global ultra-low temperature heat pump market:
North America: An international firm’s hydronic heat pump, powered by EVI, achieves a COP of 3.95 at -10°C, becoming a bestseller in residential markets.
Polar Research: China’s Antarctic research stations rely on domestically produced EVI compressors for stable heating at -40°C, validating extreme-environment adaptability.
Standard Leadership: China’s Technical Specification for Ultra-Low Temperature Air-Source Heat Pumps was incorporated into IEC international standards, steering global industry toward higher efficiency.
Expert Insight
Jiang Yi, President of the China Refrigeration Institute, stated: “EVI technology has expanded heat pump applicability northward by 10 latitude degrees. By 2030, heat pumps are projected to supply over 60% of northern China’s clean heating needs, reducing CO₂ emissions by 180 million tons annually.”