Thin Film Could Make EVs More Comfortable in Cold

Sep-09-15 Electric vehicles may become a bit more attractive to drivers in cold climates, thanks to a new thin film device that will help keep the car’s interior warm.

One of the downsides of an EV is that its battery is called upon to power many aspects of the car, including the heating system that draws its heat from the engine. Because of this, EVs typically feature silicon heating mats inside the car’s floorboards, but those systems can be bulky and require a lot of power.

As an alternative, a team from Fraunhofer created a film-based heater using a film that had been coated with a thin layer of carbon nanotubes. Electricity flowing through the film causes “collisions” with the nanoparticles, creating friction that generates heat using less energy, and the ultra-flexible film can be applied to a wide range of surfaces. The team is hoping to develop a way to eliminate the film altogether, and spray the CNT mixture directly onto the vehicle’s components.

More Info about this Invention:

[GIZMAG.COM]
[FRAUNHOFER.DE]

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