Volkswagen group cars to have ice-free windshields

Tabnabs

The Volkswagen Group today announced that it has joined forces with the Fraunhofer Institute to develop the first anti-fogging and anti-icing car windscreen. The automaker wants to spare drivers from the unpleasant task of ice scraping by introducing this concept of ice-free windows.

Unlike heated windows, the new development is based on a psychical principle that prevents the ice layer to form in the first place (at temperatures as low as minus 18 degrees C). The new windows use a wafer-thin transparent coating of indium tin oxide to achieve this.

“The conductive "Low-E coating" protects the glass from cooling, so that water on the outer surface does not condense or freeze. No ice film is formed, because radiative heat loss to the cold sky is minimised, and this prevents or delays cooling of the glass surface to below the dew point. Of course, weather conditions such as cloudiness, relative humidity and wind also play a significant role here and affect the windows’ condensation behaviour,” explained the press release.

Of course, the “Low-E coating” can’t prevent ice formation or condensation entirely, but it can significantly reduce the intensity of the processes. The project is still under development, with one current issue being that the new coating affects radio traffic in a car, limiting radio and mobile phone use.

“It will take some time before the ice-free car windscreen is market-ready, but we are working intensively toward this goal. The bottom line is that for the Volkswagen Group, the ice-free window represents a successful innovation that is unique worldwide," said Thomas Drescher of Volkswagen Development.

source

Now that will come in handy! :cool:

Danbo!

Any chance of them using the same coating on me door seals? I can deal with a frozen windscreen myself if I'm in the car, but not if I'm outside tugging on the door handle slipping all over the place

Tabnabs

See the Cold snap car problems and solutions thread...

Danbo!

Danbo! wrote: »

Any chance of them using the same coating on me door seals? I can deal with a frozen windscreen myself if I'm in the car, but not if I'm outside tugging on the door handle slipping all over the place

Use silicone free seal dress (non-silicone as silicone creates issues for paint shop should it ever be needed). And some engine oil for your locks to prevent them freezing and to keep them operating smoothly.

OP, sounds like a great development if it works.

Leonard Hofstadter

samih wrote: »

OP, sounds like a great development if it works.

This has been developed by VW, it'll probably work once and then stop:D!

R.O.R

WOW - thanks VW.

My 1993 Ford Orion had a quick clear windscreen that did more or less the same job.

17 years on and Volkswagen have come to the table with their idea.

Yeah, the Ford ones were/are great but you can see the wires sometime. If this works without any electrickery, great.

GTE

R.O.R wrote: »

WOW - thanks VW.

My 1993 Ford Orion had a quick clear windscreen that did more or less the same job.

17 years on and Volkswagen have come to the table with their idea.

To be fair it doesnt need electricity, it wont be something that can fail because of a fuse or broken electrical connection etc.
No wires in your vision either.

R.O.R

bbk wrote: »

To be fair it doesnt need electricity, it wont be something that can fail because of a fuse or broken electrical connection etc.
No wires in your vision either.

Once you get used to the wires (10 mins give or take) it doesn't bother you.

Reading the blurb above, this doesn't stop all ice forming, so you may still have to scrape off what does form, or leave the car running.

When you get a stone chip there will probably be a huge premium to get this coating on the replacement so there will be a fair few who just go back to the standard windscreen.

I'll take the Ford option and replace the fuse thanks.

Anan1

Off the top of my head, I can't see how a wafer-thin coating can prevent a windscreen from cooling to below the dew point overnight.

mathepac

R.O.R wrote: »

...
My 1993 Ford Orion had a quick clear windscreen that did more or less the same job.

17 years on and Volkswagen have come to the table with their idea.

Not the same things at all - Ford's (and other manufacturers) heated windscreens cleared ice after formation, VW's idea is to prevent ice forming in the first place " ... the new development is based on a psychical principle that prevents the ice layer to form in the first place (at temperatures as low as minus 18 degrees C) ... "

David09

R.O.R wrote: »

WOW - thanks VW.

My 1993 Ford Orion had a quick clear windscreen that did more or less the same job.

17 years on and Volkswagen have come to the table with their idea.

Your Ford orion should also have heated washer jets and heated door mirror glasses if it has the heated windscreen.

Try switching on the rear heated window and the mirror glasses will warm up.

GTE

R.O.R wrote: »

Once you get used to the wires (10 mins give or take) it doesn't bother you.

Reading the blurb above, this doesn't stop all ice forming, so you may still have to scrape off what does form, or leave the car running.

When you get a stone chip there will probably be a huge premium to get this coating on the replacement so there will be a fair few who just go back to the standard windscreen.

I'll take the Ford option and replace the fuse thanks.

Equally I can imagine replacing a Ford screen with the heating element costing more then a standard screen. Ive had a Ford with one of those screens for a few years and although you can get used to it, I dont like them all the time.

More importantly whether a chip that can be repaired damages the coating in such a way that this films ice blocking characteristics are compromised is yet to be seen. Even if it does not prevent ice build up by 100 percent if it does give you a significantly clearer screen with thinner or less dense ice it means it would be quicker to get up and go.

It is an interesting product. A few questions about yet about how effective it will be but if its still in development now there could be some optimisation left to do.

Upon a quick google it seems to already be used for deicing (glass doored freezers) and other applications.

Bodhan

A bottle of de-icer has always done the job for me. But if it's like the VW self parking system it'll be good

Anan1

996tt wrote: »

BE SCRAPPED

Bad comedy is a bannable offence.

bazz26

OSI wrote: »

And replacing a windscreen with heating elements running through it is cheap as chips sure.

If you include windscreen cover on your insurance policy then it's not an issue.

KamiKazi

Anan1 wrote: »

Bad comedy is a bannable offence.

So good comedy is OK?

I'll keep that in mind :pac:

biko

Meh, just leave the wipers halfway up and stick cardboard or a newspaper underneath.

Or get one of these:

mathepac

biko wrote: »

... Or get one of these: ...

That looks suspiciously like a heavy-duty inflatable mattress thingy from LIDL from a few years back (I use mine for exactly the same thing, but only in winter )

Tea 1000

R.O.R wrote: »

WOW - thanks VW.

My 1993 Ford Orion had a quick clear windscreen that did more or less the same job.

17 years on and Volkswagen have come to the table with their idea.

Woah woah woah... back up there... you had a Ford Orion? :eek::p

R.O.R

Tea 1000 wrote: »

Woah woah woah... back up there... you had a Ford Orion? :eek::p

J830 PUP - Maroon Orion 1.8i (105bhp) Ghia. One of the nicest sets of Alloys on a car of it's age. Electric Windows, Central Locking, Quick Clear Windscreen and a Sunroof.

I was only 20 at the time, and was coming from an 86 1.6 Escort LX so it was some step up.