To think cars should have all heated windows

[Snoopsteandcooper]

I was out scraping my car at the crack of dawn. I've got a heated front windscreen, but what's the point when I've still got to scrape the side windows. I think someone should make a car that all the windows are heated!

I eventually did the truck with the ziploc bag and warm water and that was quicker, but I'd much rather press a couple of buttons while I sit in the car!

We electric heated windscreen and wing mirrors. It’s an electric so we also just pre heat as leaving.
It doesn’t drain our battery at all pre heating and warming car.

My Ford has really efficient heated seats and heated steering wheel. Heaven!

Buy a car cover £20 off Amazon, cover your whole car instead of just your windscreen and whip it off in the morning.

The problem with heated front windscreens is the narrow wires that flow through the screen can be distracting when the sun is low in the sky. I am very happy with the pre-heating on my EV. Great to come out to find it warmed up and the seat heaters on!

Better to start the car with the heater on and let the car come to temperature before driving off anyway. Gotta let that engine heat up! And no, I don’t care if leaving it idling is illegal or bad for the environment! It’s a winter necessity which is good for the car and its driver

we had a ford with a heated screen - I loved that. Also in Scotland with 4 inches of snow currently
😰

We had to replace the windscreen...€1000! For a chip. Luckily insurance covered...

Ford never held the patent. It was the company that manufactured the windscreens for Ford.

They also sold them to other car manufufacturers. Land Rover (before they were owned by Ford), for example.

@SerendipityJane what's that got to do with where car manufacturers are innovating? People don't like renting EVs for very good reasons: generally when you rent a car it is in an area you are unfamiliar with, and therefore likely to be concerned about finding chargers and no option to charge at home as you are most likely not at home.

It's a simple fact that car manufacturers are putting all their efforts into EV development because the writing is on the wall, both legislatively and technically, for internal combustion engines for many vehicular applications.

Yep, and Nissan - my last 2 Qashqais had heated windscreens

Ah okay, thanks for clarifying

I had heated front windscreen on a Ford. TBH it was not that much faster than the blower even though it sounds great. A poxy wire with a few milli amps worth of current through it is not going to melt through an inch of snow in any reasonable timescale - it can clear a light frost fairly quickly.

The problem with side windows would be the linkage because they move up and down.

I can't see why the side windows moving would be a problem. Just use flexible connectors.

It's not just Ford or high end. I've got heated windscreen, steering wheel and front seats in my 2018 Vauxhall Corsa!

Or there's always a quick blast of de-icer on the sides, the modern stuff does no harm to paintwork.

A poxy wire with a few milli amps worth of current through it is not going to melt through an inch of snow in any reasonable timescale - it can clear a light frost fairly quickly.

It doesn't have to melt through an inch of snow, just melt the bit that is frozen to the windscreen. Then it just slides off.

Mine has always worked really well (on 2 Fords since 2010). Put it on then work my way round the side windows with a scraper and even thick ice is detached by the time I get back to the driver's door.

Interesting. We have not had heated windscreen in a BMW and a VW.

On the side windows, at least you can put them down at junctions if you need.

Volvos and BMWs & probably others have been doing this for years heating and cooling, it’s not an innovation from EVs.

I can't see why the side windows moving would be a problem. Just use flexible connectors.

It isn’t the movement that is the problem. Side windows are made from toughened glass. Heated windscreens are laminated. Two layers of glass with a layer of plastic and the heating elements sandwiched between them.

That makes them relatively heavy. Also, I believe there is an issue with the edges being exposed rather than sealed like on a windscreen. This can lead to blemishes forming between the layers.

Thanks for the explanation, you learn son new every day!

Does no one just pour a jug of water on the windscreen anymore? And any side windows that are frosted.

Yes I know, but it's standard on all EVs rather than an option or only available on luxury brands. It's a necessity on EVs to minimise battery drain on cold days.

It's so cold in Scotland at the moment that pouring water then makes the driveway icy as it often stays below freezing all day

But they don't move up and down by several inches.

My 2016 bog standard Mini Cooper has an electrically heated windscreen. But best of all, it sleeps in a garage (it knows it is a very lucky car 😀)

I have a heated rear sceeen but not front
2015 VW