Electric heat belts let you ride 15% further

The seat belt, if all goes well, wear it on every journey. Veilig Verkeer Nederland even said that every year there are a hundred deaths and 10,000 fewer injuries due to seat belts (2019). But what if you can use this belt for more than just security? For example to warm up: a heat belt.

ZF Friedrichshafen AG, a major supplier of powertrains and chassis, is showing such heat belts. The straps are made for electric cars. Why would you want a power consuming heating element around your body?

Why do you want heat belts?

The answer to the question is simple. Electric car batteries perform poorly in cold temperatures. You also have heating on the colder days. Even though you have your air conditioning on in the summer, you can still keep driving in the summer. A battery is simply better in warm weather – except in extremely high temperatures, which we (almost) don’t encounter in the Netherlands.

In order to save energy exactly when electricity is needed most – in winter – ZF develops heating belts.

ZF states that with the heating belts you get a kind of electric blanket that, together with the seat heating, keeps the occupants warm. Then the entire cabin of an electric car does not have to be kept at the right temperature. Since the cabin does not need to be heated, you can drive up to 15 percent further with your electric car.

Just as secure as a normal belt

“For the occupants, there is no difference in function to a conventional seat belt,” explains Martina Rausch, who is responsible for new seat belt developments at ZF. “The heated seat belt is in no way inferior to its conventional counterparts in terms of crash behavior.”

Although we wonder if you really feel that comfortable in your car and if you don’t get cold hands as a passenger without a heated steering wheel, the heated belt is an interesting development. Whatever you do, don’t wear a heavy coat for more reach. Read here why you should definitely not do this.