Startup Weighs In on Thermal Seating Tech

Traverse City, Mich.-based Promethient Inc. is developing a weight-activated conductive seat heating and cooling system touted as more energy efficient and durable than today's convective systems.

Promethient's Thermavance system teams a heat pump under the seat with graphene to quickly transfer heat to or away from the seating surface. Weight on the seat activates the thin layer of graphene, which is embedded just under the upholstery, within a few seconds.

Convective systems, which heat or cool seats by moving air through perforations in the upholstery, can be easily damaged if liquid is spilled onto them, Promethient CEO Bill Myers tells Automotive News. The company demonstrated the seats at this week’s Management Briefing Seminars in Traverse City.

Myers says Promethient is talking with three carmakers and aims to commercialize the technology in production vehicles in about three years. Myers notes that the technology would be well-suited for an electric vehicle because it requires less energy than traditional heating and air conditioning systems that can reduce an EV’s driving range.

Promethient also is developing applications for recreational vehicles, motorcycles, furniture, medical devices and garments. The first application, which goes into production this summer, is for custom golf cart seats. This will be followed next year by an unnamed motorcycle maker.