Gain extra miles in your EV thanks to this heated seatbelt

Switching on this heated seatbelt, could boost the range of an electric car in very cold weather. In fact, this solution promises to be less power-consuming than using the traditional heating system to keep passengers warm.

Published 13.02.2023 Reading time: 1 min

Author: ETX Daily Up

Gain extra miles in your EV thanks to this heated seatbelt

©ZF Friedrichshafen

The German equipment manufacturer ZF Friedrichshafen is behind this intriguing invention. Its heated seatbelt, presented in a demonstration video, has been designed to provide uniform heat close to the body. Combined with a heated seat, it can comfortably warm any passenger.

This seatbelt consists of a special strap with heating conductors woven directly into it. It heats up as soon as the vehicle starts moving and promises to deliver warmth of between 36 and 40 degrees Celsius. Combined with a heated seat, it offers optimal comfort to the vehicle’s occupants, even in winter. Otherwise, its operation and performance are equivalent to any conventional seat belt.

In addition to providing adequate heating for the driver and passengers, the heated seatbelt can help boost range. In electric vehicles, the climate control system is directly powered by the battery, which can result in a significant reduction in range. Here, by not needing to use the car’s traditional heating system, users can gain up to 15% of range by reducing the energy needed to heat the vehicle interior.

For the moment, this heated seatbelt is still only at the prototype stage, but according to its maker, many car manufacturers are already interested in such a solution.