Development of Antifogging Window Technology to Reduce Energy Consumption for Air Conditioning

Abstract

Mazda aims to equip all its vehicles with electrification technology by 2030 and accelerates efforts to achieve it. However, this electrification shift is accompanied by the problem of managing heating demand with minimal energy consumption. A significant portion of the energy required for heating is used to prevent fogging. To address this, we focused on developing antifogging windows coated with water-absorbing material, which can reduce fogging while consuming less energy. The antifogging windows not only lower the energy needed for fogging prevention but also improve the driving range during winter. In this study, we prepared a new organic-inorganic hybrid material with water-absorbing properties and developed an antifogging window that combines effective fogging prevention with durability. Additionally, we established a calculation model to estimate the impact of the antifogging window on driving range improvement and assessed their effect on driving range across various global regions.