Kia and Hyundai Introduce Heating and Cooling Technology for Future Models
The Kia Corp may be focused on battery-electric vehicle (BEV) concepts, such as the newly debuted Kia EV4, or making more GT models, also found on the EV4 as the GT-Line and GT Turbo trim. It may seem like the automaker is placing a major focus on performance and sports cars that are electric-powered, but Kia is also introducing cool new tech, like Kia Connected Services and the Kia Connect Store. Able to download apps from the former, consumers can personalize their driver experience like never before. Next up on the list is enhancing consumer comfort when behind the wheel, and the latest was showcased by the Kia Corporation and Hyundai Motor Company during “Heat Tech Day” in Seoul, South Korea.
On display were Kia and Hyundai Motor’s research and development achievements when it comes to controlling temperature and keeping consumers comfortable in modern day cars. Soon, the days of cranking up the AC and wishing it would cool the car down sooner will be gone. Anyone in an old car knows the pain of sweating the moment they get into the driver’s seat – solar control glass has helped, but what about the windshield? Three new technologies were unveiled during “Heat Tech Day”, one of which is Nano Cooling Film, a material that can significantly lower interior temperature when applied to vehicle glass.
Now that’s something we’d all like to have. We have yet to hear of solar control glass on windshields, and it’s the major direction a lot of that heat is entering. It’s why many people put up car windshield screens to keep the interior from heating up and/or sun damage. The Nano Cooling Film can reduce cabin temperature by up to 53 degrees Fahrenheit. That’s HUGE. During testing, Kia and Hyundai Motor prepared multiple vehicles, with and without the Nano Cooling Film, and recorded the interior temperature, ideally when the car was turned off and idle. The cars without Nano Cooling Film heated up as high as 120 degrees Fahrenheit, and those with Nano Cooling Film stayed around the mid-90s.
“The three technologies unveiled today are closer to customers than any other technology…We are developing technologies to provide the most pleasant environment, considering every moment that customers experience in mobility.” – Young Ho Jung, Vice President and Head of Thermal Energy Total Development Group at Hyundai Motor Company.
So, what about the other two? An Underfloor Radiant Heating System is made for the cold days when we want to escape into our cars for a little warmth. Able to quickly and efficiently raise the perceived temperature around passengers in cold weather, the Radiant Heating System can warm passengers in minutes by emitting radiant heat toward passengers’ legs. It may sound crazy, but this heating system can go as high as 230 degrees Fahrenheit. Thankfully, the heating element is wrapped in a fabric material that emits infrared rays to keep the heat at a more comfortable level, and comes with a burn prevention system in case any body contact is detected.
Then there’s the Metal-Coated Heated Glass. A world-first, this 48V system can quickly transmit heat to the glass to quickly remove frost and moisture. Some of us may know the hazards of frost buildup, needing to dump a pot of hat water over the windshield before we take off for the morning commute, but it may just make it worse in cold weather. The Metal-Coated Heated Glass can do this in just five minutes. Both of these technologies can also benefit electric vehicles, using less energy to heat up the interior cabin or defrost the windshield and rear glass.
With plans to implement this technology in future vehicles, expect more to come to Kia and Hyundai models in the next model year or two. If you can’t wait and want to experience all the cool tech in Kia models today, you can always find a new Kia at Miami Lakes Automall.