Hyundai and Kia Lead the Way in Vehicle Climate Control
The automotive industry is in constant evolution, and Hyundai and Kia are at the forefront of innovation, introducing novel solutions to regulate cabin temperature efficiently. These advancements span various technologies, including Nano Cooling Film, Radiant Heating Systems, and Metal-Coated Heated Glass. Nissan is also exploring radiative paint technology, further demonstrating the industry’s commitment to passenger comfort and energy efficiency.
These technologies, slated for future models like the Ioniq 6 or EV9, aim to enhance occupant comfort and conserve energy, a crucial aspect as the companies shift towards electrification. Let’s explore these exciting innovations.
Nano Cooling Film: Blocking Heat, Enhancing Comfort
One of the key technologies, the Nano Cooling Film, operates similar to a traditional tint by restricting infrared radiation from entering the car. However, unlike its counterparts, this innovative film enables heat already inside the vehicle to escape, ensuring a cool cabin even when the occupants return to a parked car. Crucially, it does not impact light transmission like conventional tints, making it potentially compliant with all jurisdictions.
Made of three layers, with two that reflect solar energy and another that emits a mid-infrared wavelength. This technology has demonstrated impressive results, with Hyundai Motor and Kia tests indicating a potential reduction of up to 53 degrees Fahrenheit in interior temperatures. This directly translates to increased passenger comfort and reduced reliance on the climate control system, leading to enhanced energy efficiency.
Intelligent Radiant Heating System: Winter Warmth and Energy Savings
To complement the Nano Cooling Film that addresses summer heat, Hyundai and Kia have devised an Intelligent Radiant Heating System for winter. Utilizing a heating element, the system warms passengers’ legs rapidly at low temperatures. Integrated into the conventional heating system, this system can achieve up to 17% more energy savings when reaching the desired temperature.
This system features a high-temperature heating component that reaches up to 230 degrees Fahrenheit and includes a burn prevention element. It has a fabric wrap offering heat through infrared rays, alongside a system that identifies body contact and lowers temperature, preventing burns. Hyundai and Kia are looking to introduce the system in future models.
Target areas for the Radiant Heating System include:
- Steering Column Base
- Driver’s Door
- Center Console
- Passenger Door
- Glovebox Base
Metal-Coated Heated Glass: Fast Defrosting and Solar Energy Blocking
Another innovation is the Metal-Coated Heated Glass System. This feature efficiently eliminates frost and moisture from the windshield during cold weather. This approach offers increased efficiency and safety over traditional heating solutions. This glass is entirely transparent to offer unhindered visibility while the defrosting system requires approximately five minutes at -0.4 degrees Fahrenheit, which is four times faster than conventional systems while consuming 10% less energy.
Furthermore, the metal-coated glass blocks at least 60% of solar energy, enhancing cabin comfort. Currently, Hyundai and Kia have filed patents in various major markets, intending to integrate this feature into forthcoming vehicles.
Nissan’s Radiative Paint: Another Approach to Temperature Control
Japanese automaker Nissan is also contributing to automotive temperature control with its exploration of radiative paint technology. Developed in collaboration with Radi-Cool, this paint utilizes electromagnetic waves to reduce vehicle temperatures.
Radiative paint has been used in buildings for a while now, but adapting it for automotive applications presents difficulties. The paint necessitates thick application and lacks the reflective luster of paints on vehicles. Spray application has proven ideal, and Nissan has developed a version usable with conventional spray guns; even though its thickness is still substantial, it’s still far thicker than normal automotive finishes.
The paint contains dual microstructure particles functioning in response to light and sunlight. One reflects near-infrared rays, while the other creates electromagnetic waves that release the radiant energy into the atmosphere. Nissan emphasizes that this reduces heat transfer, reducing the need to use the climate control system, which benefits EV efficiency.
While not yet available in production vehicles, Nissan is conducting real-world trials of this tech in the support vehicles at Haneda Airport in Tokyo, Japan. They are ideal environments given their consistent exposure to sunlight, making it a good setting to assess the functionality of the radiative paint.
These innovations from Hyundai, Kia, and Nissan highlight the importance of efficiency and passenger comfort at all levels of automotive change.
