Applying heat directly to the body through heated seat belts could increase electric car range by up to 15% in cold weather, ZF claims.
Heated seats and heated steering wheels are common features in new cars, but supplier ZF is now hawking heated seat belts, and it claims they might help increase EV range.
In cold weather, heated seat belts could increase range by up to 15% by reducing the amount of energy needed to heat a car's cabin, ZF said in a press release, although the company noted that seat-belt heaters are most effective when used with other contact heaters, such as heated seats.
ZF's heated seat belt is constructed from webbing similar to conventional seat belts, but with integrated heat-conducting elements. This slightly increases the thickness of the webbing, without affecting ease of manufacture or occupant comfort, ZF claims. No changes to the buckles or retractors are needed, so the heated seat belts work exactly like conventional belts, the company added.
ZF hasn't announced a customer for its heated seat belts, but cold-weather EV range is an important consideration for automakers. All electric cars experience some range loss in cold temperatures , and that can discourage consumers from making the switch from gasoline to electric cars.
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