Well we only recently got heated windscreens on the Yeti but look at what VW came up with now:

http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2010/11/vw-group-testing-ice-and-fog-free.html?

For those of us living in colder climates, ice can be a real hassle during winter time; scraping rock like formations from your windshield isn't the best thing that can happen to you in freezing temperatures... But the VW Group in association with the Fraunhofer Institute for Surface Technology (IST) in Braunschweig, may soon provide drivers a solution to this pesky problem.

Researchers have introduced what they claim to be the first anti-fogging and anti-icing car windscreen. Unlike heated windows, the new glass panes make use of a physical principle that does not allow an ice layer to form in the first place, even at temperatures as low as -18 C or -0.4 F.

The Volkswagen Group says the secret of the innovation lies in a wafer-thin transparent coating of indium tin oxide that is applied to the window and in theory, stops heat from going upwards and prevents or delays cooling of the glass surface to below the dew point.

"We call this a 'Low-E' (low thermal emissivity) coating. Applied to the outer glazing, it prevents heat from radiating skyward. We are proud of this innovation and will promote it throughout the Group. That is because an ice-free window is an added convenience to our customers," explains Thomas Drescher of Volkswagen Development.

"The 'Low-E coating' cannot prevent ice formation or condensation entirely, but it can significantly reduce the likelihood of it happening," Drescher added.

The VW Group says is still has to work around some problems before it offers this technology on production models. One such issue in the current development phase is that new coating interferes with radio transmission impairing radio and mobile phone reception.

"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 Drescher.

What a clever idea.

...yeah, until you first use the wipers on a dirty windscreen!

Or need to make/receive a phone call.

Good idea if they can sort these problems out though.

Surely applicable to window glass for buildings then, with no or low heat loss, that will be a nice wee earner.

Edited 11 November, 201015 yr by dieseldogg

Sounds interesting, unless some of the above drawbacks apply! i didnt get a heated screen on my Yeti - it was ex demo and I had what was available. My only experience of a heated screen was on my last XS Defender. With that, I found the elements in the screen could be a bit of a distraction in bright sun. So I wasn't too sad not to have one - even though I would probably have specified it given a choice. This new approach would seem to solve that problem at least.

Sounds like a good idea... as I'm awaiting a new heated screen for my Superb - as it's only just getting colder, i'm only just starting to use it... but only the passenger side actually works! - boooo! :'(

See thread in superb section for bizarre lookin, half-demisted images!

Al.

Sounds like a good idea... as I'm awaiting a new heated screen for my Superb - as it's only just getting colder, i'm only just starting to use it... but only the passenger side actually works! - boooo!

See thread in superb section for bizarre lookin, half-demisted images!

Al.

Remember having these screens on Fords in the 90's, after a while you would get odd elements go sometimes in small groups. Resulting in an interesting stripped effect

Still ordered it for Monster III

TP

Remember having these screens on Fords in the 90's, after a while you would get odd elements go sometimes in small groups. Resulting in an interesting stripped effect

Still ordered it for Monster III

TP

Yeah, but i would love to have a few lines off... mine's got half the screen off!!

New screen coming in on Tuesday, so i've been told... one week after ordering it, then will have to get a fitting date...

Al.

Edited 13 November, 201015 yr by ukcruiser

We need to get the roads and pavements coated with this stuff too then