New Technology Feedback: "Engine-off" interior heating system for Cadillac & Lincoln

[thomasj5127]

I have a question, I work for a supplier in North America who is currently pursuing both Cadillac and Lincoln at the highest levels of their respective organization to get them to offer a new OE option which is our vehicle "engine-off" pre-conditioning system called a Fuel Operated Heater. This system allows a vehicle owner to remotely warm the interior of his or her vehicle at the same time defrosting their windshield, and it does all this while being more environmentally friendly, and less damaging than a remote start or just idling your vehicle to warm it. Our system, which is already in production in Europe, is already offered on vehicles such as Jaguar, Mercedes, Land Rover, BMW, Porsche (soon to be offered in N. A. on the Cayenne), and VW just to name a few. This system can be activated several ways: via a remote key FOB, a timer in the vehicles IP or a phone interface (in GM's case through On-star). That's right you can call your vehicle and turn on the system. This make the functionality of our system much higher, in fact you can use it from a limitless amount of situations and locations. I used mine this winter when I was returning from Arizona to Detroit, it was 60 degrees in Arizona, but Detroit was only 12 degrees. Before leaving Arizona I called my heater in Detroit and set it to go off at the time when my plane landed, then all I did was exit the plan once it landed in Detroit grabbed my bags and headed to my already warm car which was sitting in the parking lot with everyone else's cold cars.

Being a Cadillac driver myself (SRX), I would like to find out what real enthusiast would think of such a system. This real world information would be very helpful and appreciated to help motivate these OE organization (I have been having meeting with Jim Taylor at Cadillac and Darryl Hazel and Lincoln). I almost forgot to mention the cost of adding this option to the end customer would be between $700-$1000, not a lot to pay to have a warm vehicle and not have a scrap a windshield ever again.

Could you please provide your opinions and let me know what you think. Sometimes it takes the voice of many to motivate a few. Thank you.

You can look at our website for more information at www.webasto.com. Or if people are interested I can provide more details on how it works, just let me know.

 

[Dadillac]

I have been wondering about this for many years. Why, do we only have a heating system, that relies on engine temp, in our cars? Why don't cars come with electric heaters, so as soon as they are started, there is warm air available. It seems that manufacturers could install an electric heater, in the existing airbox, that would cut off, once the heater core reaches a preset temp. It seems simple enough. I for one have been waiting for this forever. I would definitely be interested. As far as the remote start, that seems like overkill. But, it would be nice.

Don

 

[dertyclown]

no its just pointless :q:q:q:q

 

[thomasj5127]

Vehicle Pre-conditioning System Explained in More Detail

Thanks for the response, I am looking for people to provide their opinion, so I can better explain our technology and how it works. This will make people better informed on the topic.

Actually, the system which you’re referencing is called a PTC (or in engineering terms is a Positive Temperature Co-efficient system). This is actually a competitive system to the technology which we are currently pursing at both Lincoln and Cadillac. The issue with PTC systems is they use an enormous amount of energy and provide very little heat. They also are not capable of being used as a vehicle pre-heating system. They work on the same principle as a hair dryer in located in the IP. Unfortunately, with the complex electrical systems on today’s vehicles the battery and the vehicles alternator can't keep up with the other electrical demands in addition to adding a PTC system. If you live in a cold once you have experienced this product it is a must. It is what I would call a lifestyle product and can be used at work, home, the airport, school. It helps increase comfort and decrease fuel consumption and reduces harmful start emissions. It can even help your engine warm-up faster.

That is why we came up with a better solution. Our technology is a fuel operated closed combustion system (or FOH / Fuel Operated Heater) this system uses very little fuel and in basic terms is a sophisticated hot water heater. Our system heats or helps heat the vehicles coolant in either pre-warming a vehicle or during driving. In the case of a pre-heating, the heater pump the warm coolant up the vehicles heater core and turns on the IP HVAC system and blows the warm air into the interior defrosting the windshield and warming the interior to about 70 degrees in as little as 8 minutes (depending on exterior ambient temperature). In the case of the other scenario that you mentioned we can also run in succession with engine to help keep the passenger compartment warm when the engine is not providing enough waste heat. We sell over one million OEM applications in Europe today (they do it not only for the warmth, but they are also very environmentally responsible). The trend is that this technology will be coming to North America via the European automaker and we are trying to get the big three on the trend, so they are setting it not following it.

I have been wondering about this for many years. Why, do we only have a heating system, that relies on engine temp, in our cars? Why don't cars come with electric heaters, so as soon as they are started, there is warm air available. It seems that manufacturers could install an electric heater, in the existing airbox, that would cut off, once the heater core reaches a preset temp. It seems simple enough. I for one have been waiting for this forever. I would definitely be interested. As far as the remote start, that seems like overkill. But, it would be nice.

Don