Smart Glass Helps Cut Emissions
Cutting emissions is arguably the most talked about topic in automotive circles today. Yet, while much of the hype and focus within the industry remains on innovations in fossil fuel efficiency and electric battery technology, there are significant breakthroughs being made in other areas that are quietly helping OEMs in their mission to cut down on their footprint. One important unsung hero in the fight against emissions is smart glass.
Delivering more efficiency from vehicles is not only a moral necessity for OEMs but also a financial one with countries–particularly in Europe–setting ambitious emission reduction targets alongside hefty fines to force auto brands into compliance. Therefore, OEMs are leaving no stone unturned when it comes to making their vehicles more eco-friendly, and next-generation glass is providing them with some unique solutions and opportunities.
Here are three ways in which modern autoglass is helping OEMs reduce their vehicles’ carbon footprint.
Reducing Air Conditioning Use
Virtually everyone is familiar with the unpleasant feeling of getting back in a vehicle that has been parked in the sun for a few hours. And for years, car owners have been trying to find ways to beat the heat. Unfortunately, cheap fixes–like foldable reflective window boards and leaving the windows cracked open–really haven’t delivered the necessary relief motorists are looking for. As a result, OEMs have been forced to install large air conditioning units that can lower interior temperatures as quickly as possible once occupants get back in. The problem is that not only do these AC units add significant weight to the vehicle–which has a negative impact on overall fuel efficiency–but that they also require more energy to run as well.
However, modern glass technology is making it possible to “downsize” vehicle AC units by helping to keep cars cooler from the start. For example, through Suspended Particle Device (SPD) technology, electronically dimmable glass automatically switches to very dark tinted whenever a driver has left the vehicle, and can help to lower the cabin temperature by nearly 20 degrees Fahrenheit versus standard auto glass. This type of temperature reduction gives vehicles a significant head-start in keeping passengers cool, and therefore allows for OEMs to install smaller, more energy-efficient AC components.
Improving Stability and Aerodynamics
Sunroofs are one of the most popular options in vehicles today. However, to ensure that occupants are comfortable, OEMs are forced to consider making sacrifices when it comes to aerodynamics by raising the roof height of vehicles to provide enough room for sliding overhead sunroof panels while also maintaining passenger headroom. This can also have a negative impact on safety because raising the height of the roof also raises the center of gravity and reduces vehicle stability.
With modern glass, this no longer needs to be the case. For example, with advances in tintable glass, occupants can easily tune the tint of their sunroofs with the touch of a button as opposed to adjusting the sliding overhead panel. This means that OEMs can eliminate these traditional sliding panels, reducing component costs and adding an additional two or three inches of headroom to the interior without having to make any aerodynamic or safety concessions.
Limited Energy Consumption
Striking the right balance between performance and energy consumption has always been challenging for automakers. But in this new, green era, the ante has been significantly raised, and hard decisions are having to be made about trade-offs to enable more efficiency. One of the great things about modern glass is that even though it requires electricity to run, is that it only uses a fraction of the energy previously required.
For example, a large sunroof using SPD technology would only take one-hundredth of the power of a 60-watt light bulb to keep the glass in a completely clear state. These types of energy savings make sense as vehicles become more green, given it can actually help decrease the output batteries need to allocate towards other areas–such as in-car entertainment–and potentially reduce battery size as well. In addition, SPD technology can increase the driving range of electric vehicles by 5.5 percent and also cut CO2 emissions by 4 grams per kilometer in internal combustion engine vehicles. This is particularly significant because with new CO2 regulations set to take effect in Europe next year, these types of CO2 emission reductions can help save auto manufacturers approximately $420 in emissions penalties per car.
Innovation helps when it comes to make vehicles more eco-friendly. And by adopting more advanced glass, OEMs will not only deliver more efficient, comfortable and safer vehicles, but will also be producing vehicles that actually improve the passenger experience rather than one that requires owners to make compromises in the name of efficiency.
