Electrocaloric tech to help cool cars?

Researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) have developed a new, compact cooling device that can reduce temperatures by up to 16°F (9°C) in the surrounding area and as much as 25°F (14°C) at the heat source within 30 seconds, showing promise in transforming wearable cooling technologies, portable devices, and potentially even car interiors by providing rapid, energy-efficient cooling.

The device harnesses the electrocaloric effect, where an electric field temporarily changes a material’s temperature. In this case, six polymer films, each coated with carbon nanotubes, are stacked in a circular arrangement. When activated, the films compress and expand in an accordion-like motion, continuously pumping heat away from the source and cooling the surrounding area.

This efficient cooling method reduces, and could in some cases eliminate, the need for energy-hungry cooling systems like air-conditioning and refrigeration.