Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems are a major contributor to energy consumption in electric buses, substantially affecting their driving range, especially under extreme weather conditions. Effective thermal management of the battery is also essential to prolong battery lifespan in electric vehicles. This paper presents a dynamic simulation of an integrated Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) system that simultaneously manages the thermal needs of both the passenger cabin and the battery pack. Developed in Python using the "CoolProp" library, the model is benchmarked against conventional air conditioning and Positive Temperature Coefficient (PTC) heating systems. Weather data from the "Meteonorm" library for Tehran’s summer, winter, and autumn conditions are used in three 24-hour scenarios. Results show significant efficiency improvements, with the VRF system reducing energy consumption by 34% compared to PTC heating during winter heating demand, while continuously managing battery thermal regulation. Moreover, in balanced conditions requiring simultaneous cabin heating and battery cooling, the system’s heat recovery mode achieved a notable average Coefficient of Performance (COP) of 7.01. These energy savings translate into practical benefits, extending the vehicle’s daily range by about 18 km during winter.
