Tesla wants to reinvent comfort with liquid heating and cooling

By John Elkin October 9, 2019

In the world of manufacturing electric cars, thinking outside the box is mandatory. Electric-powered options normally supplied by an onboard power source need to be redesigned — after all, the more power you can devote to the drive system the further the range. To this end, the technology geniuses at Tesla are tackling a weird but crucial issue: heating and cooling seats.

The United States Patent and Trademark Office published an application on September 26 for a liquid-filled heated and cooled seat. The patent paperwork showed a liquid heating and cooling system utilizing dual bladders just under the seat fabric with a pump to circulate the liquid. A heating element and a fluid pump will handle the temperature changes far more efficiently than the standard all-electric heating currently in use.

Recommended Videos

The patent does not make entirely clear how the cooling effect will be attained, nor does it mention a specific model, such as the Tesla Model S or Model 3. Repeatedly, the term “temperature control unit” is used to explain the same principle as the heating. However the wizards of Palo Alto plan to make it work, they promise a system that is low cost, low noise, and power-efficient. The issue of noise in an electric car might not seem pressing, but it appears to be top of mind at Tesla. It remains to be seen how noise is a problem in an electric car but it seems to be an issue Tesla believes needs slaying.

Just looking at the patent as a layman, one has to wonder what will keep the bladders from leaking from any number of scenarios that would introduce a sharp object into the vehicle. The patent leaves many questions unanswered such as the types of fluid used and the exact method of distribution of those fluids. Also unclear is whether tubing or chambered bladders will carry the as-yet-undisclosed type of fluid.

It should be noted that vehicle manufacturers apply for hundreds of patents every year for technology that never sees the passenger compartment. In this case though, with heated seats becoming a more sought after option for the overly-chilled backsides of millions of people, it makes sense that Tesla is going to great lengths to run innovative systems with a minimal power drain allowing more performance from the drivetrain.

Topics

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Worked for many off road and rally and sports car publications throughout the 1980s and 1990s. Decided to go look for a…

Cars

Lucid Gravity: range, charging, price, release date, and more

A Lucid Gravity electric SUV on the road.

There's finally another option in the world of electric SUVs. The Lucid Air has long been known as the electric car with the longest range, but Lucid is finally branching out with a bigger option -- the Lucid Gravity. It offers a similar design sensibility as the Air, with more room on the inside and pretty great performance.

The Lucid Gravity could well be the go-to electric SUV, at least when it comes to luxury options. Curious to learn more? Here's everything you need to know.
Lucid Gravity design
If you've seen the Lucid Air, you have an idea about the overall design of the Lucid Gravity. The car is sleek and stylish, and while it's not quite as unique-looking as the Air, it's clearly a premium car overall.

Cars

Norway has more EVs than gasoline cars on the road. Why?

Tesla Model 3 Highland Front

Norway hit a major milestone in the world of electric cars. The country is the first to have more EVs on the road than gas cars. And didn't just see more sales of EVs -- more people are driving EVs than internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles.

According to a new report from the Norwegian road federation, as reported first by AFP, of the 2.8 million private cars registered the country, 754,303 are all-electric vehicles, compared to 753,905 that are gas-powered cars. Of course, you might notice a discrepancy in those numbers. In the mid-2000s, Norway instituted a big push for diesel fuel complete with tax incentives, and diesel cars remain the most common vehicle type in the country, accounting for over a third of vehicle registrations. But officials in Norway think that EVs will outnumber even diesel cars by 2026 -- which isn't surprising given the fact that the report highlights that in August, EVs accounted for a whopping 94.3% of new car registrations in the country.

Cars

Rivian R1S (2nd-generation) vs. Kia EV9: Should you pay more?

Rivian R1S Gen 2.

Electric crossovers have been plentiful for a few years now, but we're finally getting a solid selection of electric SUVs too. In fact, some of these electric SUVs are now on their second generation. The Rivian R1S has long been considered among the best options for those who want a three-row electric SUV -- and this year, the company unveiled an update to the vehicle. But it goes up against tough competition, like the Kia EV9, which has been hailed as a more affordable option that still offers an excellent overall experience.

So how does the second-generation Rivian R1S stack up the Kia EV9? They're certainly priced differently, but is the R1S worth that extra cash? Here's what you need to know.
Design
The second-generation Rivian R1S and the Kia EV9 are both three-row SUVs, so of course there are similarities in their design. They're both relatively large, and both look like SUVs when it comes to their overall shape.