I think some people are missing the point of a heater in FL washers.
The whole point of having heaters in FL machines is to allow a cooler intake temperature, such that heat-sensitive stains are less likely to be set into the items being washed. As the temperature increases, you get the benefits of a cool, warm and eventually hot wash cycle all in the one. Given the huge difference in temperature between cool and hot, it *is* necessary to use a reasonably large heater to ensure that cycle times are not absurdly long, particularly on European machines where there is the choice of temperatures exceeding 140º for the wash.
Suggesting that US products are better is more blind patriotism, I think, than truth. Others have supplied times, temperatures and actual energy consumption, while I'll make some rebuttals which are related, but not based upon these facts:
~ In many instances, Europeans LONG AGO abandoned hugely wasteful storage water heater solutions, whatever the fuel (unless solar/geothermal), you're still heating (in some cases) vast quantities of water that isn't used. So now, they are using instant electric or gas systems. Either way, their on-demand nature is far more efficient than storing water waiting for someone to eventually have a shower, or wash a load of laundry. Given high EU energy prices, this seems like a sensible idea.
I've noticed in some areas, storage systems do remain popular, for whatever reason. This includes Norway, one of the most expensive countries to live in (electric storage systems). Why don't they use gas when the state produced product is right there? Well, it is far easier to supply electricity in the middle of a mountain range than it is gas. Its less costly, and far safer if there is an accident. Same reason we use gas bottles 'in the sticks' here in Australia, too. Its also a cultural thing, no-one in Norway I've seen cooks with gas (unless its a camping stove). Everyone uses some sort of electric range/stovetop setup.
~ Given that Europeans don't have storage water heaters, and their washers use small quantities of water to get the job done - why waste hot water trying to fill the machines when the water (while hot) will be so little in quantity that it barely raises the overall temperature above tepid? The same applies for dishwashers. Unless there is a clear savings advantage, running hot water taps until they are purged of cold water can be wasteful.
This waste can be eliminated by allowing the washer to completely heat the water itself. And again, in the end, the cost of this over time will be less than wastefully keeping water hot un-necessarily, unless you are processing quantities of laundry meant for a commercial laundry, and not a home situation.
People here on this site have reported that they have to use their SQ FL's on 'Hot' for a (true) warm wash, and they must first "purge" the washer of cold water up to several times to ensure they get a true hot wash. Given the average person doing the laundry probably doesn't care about "the details," they'd try running the warm or hot cycle, only to be disappointed when it didn't turn out as they expected. The Euro machines at least understand this, and will heat to what you set them to. They don't give you a cold wash when "warm" is selected, they give the user what *they* want, when they want it - Even to a specific temperature setpoint!
Meanwhile, U.S. machines are still only offering temperature selections in the vague terms of "Cold, Warm, Hot, Extra Hot" - which are highly disputable temperature ranges.
