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.

Because the device operates purely on electricity and requires no refrigerants, it could a present more sustainable option, especially when powered by renewable sources.

“Because we can use thin, flexible films, electrocaloric cooling would be most ideal for next-generation wearables that can keep us cool under strenuous conditions,” said Qibing Pei, a UCLA professor and principal investigator. 

He believes this technology could also be used to cool electronics with flexible components – a feature that will become increasingly common in next-generation vehicles – and it follows that it could also cool touchpoints around vehicle interiors to reduce the load on air-conditioning.

Initially, the researchers aim to apply this technology to develop wearable cooling accessories that are comfortable, affordable, reliable, and energy-efficient, particularly for individuals working in hot environments for extended periods.