FlexiTEC 2 – flexible and robust thermoelectric cooling

Electric vehicles typically consume 14-18% of their power on cabin temperature control, but this can reach up to 40%. Addressing this demand side power consumption rather than the battery supply side could enable easier improvements in electric vehicle (EV) range, increasing the speed of EV adoption. It has been shown that cabin power can be reduced by 17% using more local temperature control e.g. cooling the driver rather than the whole cabin. Our proposed approach is to improve the local temperature control further in both comfort and efficiency by utilising flexible cooling systems that can be integrated more directly into seats. Thermoelectric devices are good candidates for such local temperature control, but need further development to enable a truly flexible and robust device. This project aims to enable this, as well as exploiting the steps on the way to this end, for example utilising more robust devices for medical and optoelectronic applications. By demonstrating these successful application-focused innovations, the fellowship additionally aims to reinvigorate the thermoelectric community, with an increased emphasis on devices and applications beyond the more commonly reported successful research on materials. This would enable real impact, and shake up the market in commercially available thermoelectric temperature control devices that have seen little major innovation in recent decades.