Subaru sacrifices a glove box for radiant heating

Radiant heating

A recent piece from InsideEVs began by stating that the updated Subaru Solterra does not have a glove box. The reason for this was that the space was needed for a radiant heating device, which is supposed to use less energy than either a heat pump or resistance heating.

This seemed odd a needed to be explored further. Surely the radiant heat needs a source!

First to clarify, radiant heat warms objects directly through electromagnetic waves, a method of heat transfer. In the case of the Solterra, thin-film technology is used as the heat source.

However, an electric current is used to create the heat — which is resistance heating.

In traditional resistance heating, a coil, generally made of copper and large compared to the film, is heated by an electric current. Air is then blown over the coil to heat the air in the vehicle.

Radiant heat bypasses atmospheric heating and instead transferring the heat to solid objects. Like people. The process uses far less electricity.

One puzzle remains. Copper coils Log Outare bulky while thin-films by definition are not. Further they are flexible and can be formed into complex shapes. It suggests that the glove box could remain, with the radiant heat sources applied on remaining surfaces.

Subaru says only that the car offers radiant leg heating for the driver and front passenger, suggesting the heat source is below the area shown (right). The Solterra still has all the traditional equipment needed by the driver (see here), why not a glove box in the broader area shown?

Perhaps more information will be forthcoming. Regardless, it remains a very interesting development.

And by the way, the Solterra still has a heat pump…

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