Tag Archives: ZF LIFETEC

Beyond the Heated Steering Wheel

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During the Aspen Ideas Festival, Jim Farley, Ford CEO, brought up heated steering wheels (as an analogy, but it works here). He said that when you first hear about a heated steering wheel you think, “’Well, that won’t be a big deal.’ On a cold day, ‘Wow! that’s pretty amazing.’”

Yes, anyone who lives in a cold clime and has the opportunity to grip a heated steering wheel on a frosty morning knows that it is a very big deal.

Which came to mind when I saw the announcement for the ZF LIFETEC Heat Belt 2.0.

It’s a seat belt that’s embedded with four heating wires. The coverage area goes from the chest down to the pelvis.

Thermal image of the Heat Belt 2.0 (Image: ZF LIFETEC)

The belt, when activated, takes the temp from 23 degrees F to 104 degrees F in less than two minutes.

It has a maximum heating output of 60 W; the average is ~20 W.

There’s an algorithm that calibrates several factors (sun load in the vehicle; HVAC output; etc.) so tte heating is optimized.

One useful aspect of this is for electric vehicles.

HVAC systems use a lot of energy, so warming up the passengers with the belt can help minimize that.

It is even possible to reduce the size of the HVAC unit in the vehicle.

ZF LIFETEC estimates a potential 6% range increase by the efficient use of heating for the occupants.

That’s arguably bigger than Farley’s “’Wow! that’s pretty amazing!’”

Clever Steering Wheel Design

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Yes, it is still round. But it provides increased functionality

By Gary S. Vasilash

Steering wheels have increasingly become not only the means by which drivers can aim their vehicles, but as a user interface for a variety of functions, from controlling the audio system to engaging cruise control.

Then there is the packaging for the airbag.

Oh, and the steering wheel still is the place where one honks the horn. (Something that is more apparent in, say, New York City.)

Note the horizontal interface across the wheel. (Image: ZF LIFETEC)

A new approach to the steering wheel has been concepted by ZF LIFETEC.

No, this isn’t something where the configuration is radically changed, as though someone is piloting an aircraft rather than an auto.

But there is a horizontal element that goes across the diameter of this concept steering wheel that is described as serving as a control for the “vehicle’s entertainment and assistance functions.”

It is a seamless surface with force-sensitive “buttons.”

The airbag?

It “deploys from the top side of the steering wheel through the upper steering wheel rim toward the driver.”

By this repositioning from where the airbag is typically located the designers and engineers are able to provide that horizontal section with a variety of functions, perhaps even at some point a central screen.