For passengers who were excited about the introduction of heated seats in cars – and for drivers who were subsequently delighted by the wonder of a heated steering wheel – there may be good news on the way from South Korea.
Last week the Hyundai Motor Company and Kia Corporation showcased three technologies designed to add comfort and heating and cooling to a vehicle’s interior. It’s still a few years away, so don’t give up that parka or turn off the air conditioning just yet.
One of the concepts is Nano Cooling film applied to glass surfaces. In tests, the application reduced interior temperatures to 96F compared to temperatures of 118F for vehicles without the film.
The product, according to Hyundainot only blocks infrared radiation from outside the vehicle like traditional tint films, but also allows heat to escape from inside the vehicle. It consists of three layers, two of which reflect solar energy and one of which transmits mid-infrared wavelengths.
Also at the “Heat Tech Day” event in Seoul, the manufacturers showcased the Radiant Heating System, a heating element placed under the floor of the cabin that emits radiant heat to the passengers’ legs, quickly warming them up in cold weather.
The carmakers claim that this technology, as part of an existing heating system, can save up to 17% more energy to reach the desired temperature and also significantly increase the car’s range. electric vehicles in winter by reducing energy consumption for climate control.
In addition to the above examples, Hyundai and Come on showcased Metal-Coated Heated Glass, which is designed to remove frost or moisture from a vehicle’s windshield in five minutes during the winter, and uses less energy than other conventional systems. Additionally, the metal coating can passively block at least 60 percent of the sun’s energy on hot days, reducing the cabin’s cooling needs to “significantly improve energy efficiency.”