Why don’t cars have this yet? Car seat belts that keep you warm
Why heat your seat belt?
The logic behind it is simple: heating via direct contact with your body is much more efficient than blowing warm air throughout the interior. Especially in electric cars, this counts extra heavily, because an electric motor produces hardly any residual heat. And an electric heater eats electricity. Every degree less you have to stoke up immediately results in more miles of driving range. Heated seats and steering wheel already prove that, and some brands are even experimenting with heated armrests. The next step? A seat belt that warms you up nicely within two minutes.
Big effect
According to supplier ZF Lifetec, belt heating can add up to six percent extra driving range. That may seem like a small difference, but for automakers it’s much cheaper than building in larger batteries. Besides, batteries perform less well in winter anyway, so every little bit helps.
The system itself is surprisingly simple: inside the belt are ultra-thin wires that heat chest and hips. With a thickness of only 1.3 millimeters, the belt remains virtually the same as it is today. So manufacturers hardly need to adjust their designs.
Smart control
The technology requires no more power than a phone charger, but can scale up to 60 watts if it’s really cold. You don’t have to push a button yourself: sensors measure temperature, sunlight and even your skin heat to automatically choose the right power output. Either way, chances are quite good that this kind of gadget will be found in many electric models within a few years. After all, why not?