Filed under: Emerging Technologies, EV/Plug-in, BMW
Fans? We don't need no stinkin' fans.
Last week, BMW discussed an infrared heating system for vehicle occupants that would pretty drastically cut energy use compared to traditional systems and thereby extend the range of its battery-electric and plug-in hybrid-electric vehicles.
The German automaker, which introduced the idea at a recent Innovation Day, explained a system that would see panels that give off thermal radiation mounted in footwells and on door panels. Besides the energy savings, the system would be silent and could deliver cabin heat within a minute and would have no need for fans or air vents. More importantly, when coupled with an on-board heat pump, infrared could cut cabin heating energy requirements in half and may extend electric range by as much as 30 percent.
Whether or when such a system will see the light of day in a production car is anyone's guess. But we do know that BMW will debut a plug-in hybrid concept car called the Active Tourer at the Paris Motor Show next week. That said, reports came out earlier this year saying BMW may delay or even cancel plans to build its i-branded EVs and PHEVs because of demand questions and high costs. BMW is still moving forward with plug-ins, but how much and how infrared remains a mystery.
Continue reading BMW developing infrared heating system for EVs
BMW developing infrared heating system for EVs originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 19 Sep 2012 16:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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