German company ZF has unveiled an innovative development: the Heat Belt, a seatbelt with integrated heating. The technology functions by warming small interior elements, similar to heated seats and steering wheels, to help preserve the range of electric vehicle batteries. This is crucial because cold weather can reduce an EV’s range by up to 30%. ZF estimates that using heated seatbelts could improve a vehicle’s range in adverse weather conditions by up to 15%.
The contact elements for the electrical heating circuits are designed to avoid interference with the seatbelt’s operation or retraction mechanism, ensuring safe use without causing burns.