Winter is tough on all vehicles, electric or otherwise. The roads are more difficult to drive on, the low temperatures make drivers dependent on the compressor to keep warm, and de-icing a windshield can take several minutes out of a morning.
Well, Hyundai is aiming to change that with what the automaker called, “MetalCoating Heated Glass.” Unlike a traditional defroster, the glass itself can generate heat, melting ice and snow exceptionally faster.
Hyundai says the windshield has four layers: Outer glass, a PVB film, the metal coating, and the inner glass.
“This coating consists of approximately 20 metal layers, including silver (Ag), which, when electric current flows through it, functions as a heating element embedded within the windshield,” reads Hyundai’s news site.
The glass can generate its own heat thanks to a 48V power system separate from the vehicle’s 13.5V system, allowing the glass to heat up to ice-melting temps significantly faster than traditional defrosters. Normally, defrosters take several minutes to warm up as they rely on the engine’s connection to the AC compressor.
Hyundai’s rigorous testing showed it defrosted a completely frozen windshield in subzero temperatures in five minutes. A traditional defroster took 10-15.
But wait! There’s more to Hyundai’s crazy cool technology
Metal-clad windshields were designed for EVs and autonomous driving, to give the army of active sensors a break. However, there’s another cool feature that comes in handy during hot summers.
“[The windshield] effectively blocks solar heat energy, which is a major contributor to rising interior temperatures during hot weather,” the site continues. “By reflecting infrared radiation and emitting its own heat, metal-coating heated glass can block over 60% of total solar energy.”
That means the temperature inside the vehicle compared to its surroundings could be different by eight degrees making drivers need the battery-zapping HVAC system even less.
By not having to use the AC or defroster in the summer or winter, EV owners can enjoy a higher battery range.
