On the 22nd of August, Hyundai Motor Company and Kia held the ‘Heat Tech Day’ at ‘Crest 72’ located in Jung-gu, Seoul, unveiling three technologies designed to control the internal temperature of vehicles and create a comfortable cabin environment.
This event was organized to showcase the achievements of Hyundai and Kia in research and development, focusing on the technologies that enable passengers to feel comfortable through effective interior temperature regulation.
Vehicles are evolving from mere transportation means to a living space known as mobility. As such, Hyundai and Kia recognize the increasing demand from customers for a comfortable time spent within mobility, prompting the necessity for a paradigm shift in heating and cooling technologies. They are proactively developing various temperature control technologies ahead of the curve.
These temperature control technologies are crucial in efficiently managing vehicle energy, especially in the context of electrification and autonomous driving, thereby enabling the transformation of mobility into a true living space through ergonomic design.
The three technologies unveiled include: ▲ ‘Nano Cooling Film,’ which can significantly lower indoor temperatures when attached to vehicle windows; ▲ ‘Radiant Heating System,’ which quickly raises the perceived temperature through heated elements surrounding the passengers; and ▲ ‘Metal Coated Heating Glass,’ which incorporates the world’s first 48V system to rapidly emit heat from metallic coatings inside the glass, effectively removing frost and moisture.
Hyundai and Kia introduced the three temperature control technologies and provided demonstrations for each. They even allowed participants to experience the effects directly in actual vehicles, showcasing the technology’s readiness for mass production.
Jung Young-ho, Senior Executive of Hyundai and Kia’s Energy Integration Development Division, stated, “The three technologies unveiled today are closer to our customers than any other. We are developing these technologies with the goal of providing the most comfortable environment for every moment customers experience in mobility.”
■ Nano Cooling Film: Reduces indoor temperature by up to 10℃ when applied to windows.
Last July, Hyundai and Kia showcased various advanced nano-material technologies during the ‘Nano Tech Day’ event. Among these was the Nano Cooling Film, which received significant attention for its effectiveness in significantly lowering indoor temperatures just by being applied to the vehicle.
At this event, Hyundai and Kia revealed a large-scale version of their Nano Cooling Film, developed with improved performance and quality, applied to a Hyundai Ioniq 6. Two vehicles with identical interior and exterior colors were presented: one with the Nano Cooling Film applied and the other in its original, unmodified state, allowing for a clear demonstration of the temperature difference.
During the demonstration, the indoor temperature near the center console of the vehicle with the Nano Cooling Film was 36.0℃, while the other vehicle registered 48.5℃, highlighting a difference of up to 12.5℃.
One participant who assessed the temperature differences remarked, “Seeing that a seemingly ordinary film can lower the vehicle’s indoor temperature by over 12℃ is truly impressive. If mass-produced, Hyundai and Kia could become an even more attractive brand compared to competitors.”
The Nano Cooling Film is an advanced material that not only blocks external heat like traditional tinting films but also has the capability to release internal heat to the outside.
It consists of three layers: two layers that reflect near-infrared wavelengths of solar energy, and one layer that emits mid-infrared wavelengths to the exterior. Just by being affixed to vehicle windows, it can lower summer indoor temperatures by more than 10℃.
Additionally, it can adjust the transparency of visible light, enabling its use alongside existing tint films without darkening the windows. When combined with tinting films, the thermal insulation effect of the tint is enhanced by the blocking and emitting properties of the Nano Cooling Film, leading to greater efficacy.
In April, Hyundai carried out the ‘MADE COOLER BY HYUNDAI’ campaign in Pakistan, where tinting is legally prohibited, by offering over 70 vehicles with transparent Nano Cooling Film for free, receiving a positive response locally.
(※ Related video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9zXGsPBOlg&t=13s)
In June, they were invited as an official seminar speaker at the ‘Cannes Lions 2024,’ the world’s largest international advertising festival, to introduce the Nano Cooling Film technology and the campaign conducted in Pakistan. Hyundai became the first finished vehicle manufacturer to hold a formal seminar on technology at Cannes Lions.
Lee Min-jae, the responsible researcher at Hyundai and Kia’s Energy Device Research Team, expressed, “We are pleased to present the first actual vehicle application of Nano Cooling Film in Korea. We will make every effort to enhance the technology’s completeness to a mass production level so that customers can meet the Nano Cooling Film as soon as possible.”
■ Radiant Heating System: Heats quickly with elements surrounding the body, delivering warmth within 3 minutes.
Hyundai and Kia also presented the Radiant Heating System, a technology designed to rapidly warm passengers during winter, applied in the Kia EV9, allowing participants to experience it firsthand.
The Radiant Heating System utilizes heating elements that emit radiant heat placed around the passengers’ leg areas to quickly warm their bodies in cold winter conditions.
Hyundai and Kia emphasize that utilizing the Radiant Heating System alongside the existing air conditioning system can save energy by 17% in reaching the optimal temperature, with warmth being delivered to the lower body within 3 minutes, significantly enhancing passenger comfort.
Moreover, it is expected to alleviate discomfort caused by dry air directly hitting the skin from the air conditioning unit, allowing for a more pleasant and not overly dry heating experience.
This technology is also anticipated to greatly contribute to extending the driving range of electric vehicles during winter by reducing the energy consumption required for indoor heating.
The core technology includes high-temperature film heating elements and a burn prevention system. The film-type heating element generates heat up to 110℃ within each module, while the surrounding fabric adjusts the heat to a comfortable temperature, emitting far-infrared rays. Each heating module is equipped with a burn prevention system that detects body contact immediately and lowers the temperature to eliminate any risk of burns.
The EV9 exhibited at the event featured the Radiant Heating elements placed in a total of nine locations: five in the driver’s seat area, including under the steering column, the door, and the center console, and four in the passenger seat area, including the door, center console, and under the glovebox.
Om An-joo, a research fellow at Hyundai and Kia’s Integrated Thermal Management Research Lab, stated, “One of the fastest ways to eliminate winter chill is through radiant heating. The Radiant Heating System will allow for quick and pleasant heating, eliminating any hesitation for customers to use their vehicles in the winter.”
Hyundai and Kia plan to incorporate the Radiant Heating System into upcoming new models.
■ Metal Coated Heating Glass: Transparent metal coating generates heat to remove frost and humidity.
Hyundai and Kia introduced the ‘Metal Coated Heating Glass’ technology, the world’s first to apply a 48V system.
This technology inserts approximately 20 layers of metal coatings between the bonded glass at the front of the vehicle to enable the glass itself to generate heat, allowing for the removal of frost or humidity during winter.
Utilizing the high-voltage 48V system, it can completely eliminate ice on the glass surface within 5 minutes even at -18℃, offering de-frosting that is up to four times faster and consumes about 10% less power compared to traditional internal combustion engine vehicles.
Additionally, during hot weather in summer, it can block at least 60% of incoming solar energy without consuming power, significantly aiding vehicle energy efficiency.
Most notable is the greatly improved visibility over tungsten wire heated elements, which were primarily used in extreme cold regions such as Canada or Northern Europe, as the heating wire remains invisible. This provides drivers with a clean field of view without glare or distortion.
Hyundai and Kia believe this technology will significantly enhance safety in cold global markets and that the adoption of Metal Coated Heating Glass will eliminate the need for existing air conditioning systems to remove frost and humidity, allowing for more efficient and flexible designs.
At the event, a display of Metal Coated Heating Glass, identical in size to those deployed in actual vehicles, attracted significant interest from attendees. Participants were able to touch the exhibited glass and witness its high visibility and heating performance firsthand.
Hyundai and Kia have applied for patents for Metal Coated Heating Glass technology in major domestic and foreign markets and intend to incorporate it into future vehicle models.
Jung Gi-heon, chief of Hyundai and Kia’s MLV Exterior Design Team, stated, “The adoption of Metal Coated Heating Glass will not only enhance customer convenience and comfort but also significantly aid driving safety. Especially with the fast removal of frost, which can obstruct the driver’s view, the synergy with the 48V system will elevate both the utility and completeness of the technology.”
Hyundai and Kia representatives stated, “Beyond the interior heat management technologies revealed today, we are working on managing the heat across the entire spectrum of mobility, including motors, engines, and batteries. We will continue to research various heat management technologies to make customers’ daily lives more convenient and comfortable.”
Lee Sang-jin daedusj@autodiary.kr