Hyundai seeks to save lots of energy with radiant heating, 48V glass

• Hyundai’s working on three pieces of tech to advance vehicle cabin heating and cooling
• The tech could lead on to efficiency gains
• The efficiency gains could lead on to more EV range, but could also make more efficient gas cars

Hyundai and Kia are testing ways to heat and funky vehicle cabins more efficiently, saving energy in the method.

During a technology demonstration in South Korea, the 2 automakers unveiled a radiant heating system that uses a heating element to direct warm air at occupants’ legs. It delivers warmth to the lower body inside three minutes, using less energy to realize a snug cabin temperature and potentially helping stretch EV range, in keeping with a Hyundai.

The heating element can reach 230 degrees Fahrenheit, but includes a burn prevention system that robotically lowers the temperature when body contact is detected. For the demonstration, nine panels with the sort of heating element were installed on a Kia EV9 electric SUV, covering the bottom of the steering column, door panels, center console, and the bottom of the glove box.

One other technology showcased was heated glass with energy provided by a 48-volt electrical system. This could fully defrost the glass in five minutes at temperatures as little as -0.4 degrees Fahrenheit, which is as much as 4 times faster than conventional climate control, in keeping with Hyundai. This version also uses around 10% less energy than regular climate control, and the embedded metal coating used to transmit heat may block solar rays to scale back cabin temperature on hot days.

Hyundai and Kia show latest temperature control technologies

Features like these could potentially be applied to all vehicles to reinforce cabin comfort while saving energy. But they make probably the most sense in EVs, which lack combustion engines to generate heat for naming interiors. Ford has found that heated interior surfaces could help boost EV range, and supplier ZF unveiled a heated seat belt in 2023 making that very same claim.

Hyundai and Kia also once more demonstrated the window-tinting tech the automakers first showed in 2023. This uses a special film to block heat from entering the vehicle while also allowing heat that has already built up to flee. Hyundai previously demonstrated the film on customer cars in Pakistan, where conventional window tinting is against the law. Hyundai has reported temperature reductions of 54.5 degrees in internal testing.