Monolithic MOFs for efficient vehicle HVAC systems

A car's heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system requires up to 8-10kW to run, making it the most energy-intensive auxiliary system in a passenger vehicle. The impact is especially pronounced in electric vehicles, which cannot use heat from the engine, and where energy lost cannot be recycled through regenerative breaking. The result is up to 50% reduction in electric vehicle mileage in hot/cold conditions, making HVAC the auxiliary system with the largest limiting effect on performance. Meanwhile, range anxiety remains the greatest barrier to consumer adoption. This project addresses HVAC efficiency as a critical challenge for the wider adoption of electric vehicles in the push for a cleaner transportation sector. Immaterial aims to do this through the development of a filter that enables the recirculation of cabin air, omitting the need to heat and cool fresh air as regularly as is normally required.