Just last week, GM Authority provided exclusive information on the upcoming Cadillac Celestiq luxury sedan, the new range-topping, all-electric flagship in Caddy’s vehicle lineup, which will come equipped with SPD-SmartGlass Nanotechnology. Now, we have further information on the benefits of this cutting-edge glass tech, including how it could increase driving range.
In case you missed our coverage last week, SPD-SmartGlass Nanotechnology is a special kind of glass that allows on-demand control over the glass opacity, thus allowing either more or less light into the cabin, as desired.
Equipped on the new Cadillac Celestiq, SPD-SmartGlass Nanotechnology will be used for the luxury sedan’s glass roof, which will enable passengers to control individual quadrants of the roof and set their own preferred opacity.
Obviously, this is great for passengers, but the tech could also help to increase driving range for the all-electric Cadillac Celestiq. For starters, the glass can reduce cabin temperatures, as indicated by Joe Harary, CEO of Research Frontiers, makers of SPD-SmartGlass. In an interview with GM Authority Executive Editor Alex Luft, Harary said that the glass can help to reduce cabin temps by 18 degrees Fahrenheit when equipped on a vehicle with a small sunroof. The Cadillac Celestiq has a full glass roof, which means the benefits could be even greater.
As a result of the cooler cabin temps, there is reduced reliance on the air conditioning system to keep things comfortable. Less A/C use means less electricity used by the compressor, and thus, more electricity for overall range. What’s more, automakers can equip smaller A/C compressors, and thus reduce weight, netting even further range benefits.
According to Harary, Continental Automotive ran a study that found SPD-SmartGlass could increase electric vehicle driving range by 5.5 percent thanks to the cooler cabin temps. What’s more, the study found that the glass tech would reduce CO2 emissions by 4 grams per km when equipped on an ICE-powered vehicle.
The Cadillac Celestiq was initially slated for a debut in April, and later delayed to a summer date. Now, however, the delay has been extended a bit further, although the sedan is on track for a launch with the 2024 model year, starting at roughly $200,000.
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Comments
I have to disagree I have equinox with moon roof man in scorching sun of Baghdad summer the roof is like an oven over your head ac keeps running to cool the cabin temp so this is not correct since steel is isolated by foam on car roof panoramic sunroof is isolated by curtain without insulation…
ALas, the article does not provide much information about just how this “glass” roof will provide greater fthermal efficiency over what the previous commenter stated (“traditonal metal and foam head liner”) Perhaps this “glass” roof has greater “R” value? I conjectured, before reading the article, that the roof was also capable of morphing into a photo galvanic solar cell.—very attractive design —
I’ll just keep using the opaque sunshade and save $200,000 thank you. Leave it to Cadillac to come up with this marketing crap.
Chill A, if you hate cadillac so much, why are you here reading about the celestiq? It’s obvious now that you’re just bashing at Cadillac in every article just because you hate it. The cadillac celestiq has been even revealed, yet you start hating on it before it’s even revealed. Classic diluted hater.
I don’t get it he is talking about Cadillac and a $200k car but somehow that means he hates the entire brand? I’m confused how exactly that works?
If you have seen Mr.A comment, you’ll see every one of his comments is about something negative about cadillac. He is clearly a hater.
You just hate Cadillac don’t you?
Go lick bmw’s ugly grill or Mercedes”s terrible interior quality and thank Mohammad for giving you some advice.
He can state his opinion if he wants just because you 3 wanna dick ride each other that’s on yall. It says more about the 3 of you that what he said bothers y’all so much then it does about him. This is directed towards Mohammad, Chris, and Tom and any other dick rider that has something to say.
I don’t have nothing to do with Tom and Chris, they just agree with me. He can state his opinion yes! But he keeps hating on cadillac in every article literally, he is just a hater not a real car enthusiast! How can you make a opinion on a car thats not revealed yet, and also the smart glass sunroof may very well be an option!
Hypocrite. Aren’t Mohammad, Chris, and Tom just stating their opinions too? Get outta here with your self-appointed overlord attitude.
Get off my nuts I said what I said I could give 2 shyts what you think.
Yeah, responding to me really shows you don’t care.
This is your response anytime you get called out try to come up with something new. And like I said get off my nuts.
Weak. You were called out for being a hypocrite, accept it you earned it fool. Now show me how little you care by taking the time to respond again.
You still can’t come up with anything else lol. Look who responded to who and tell me who cares.
Boy you are stupid. You said you “could give 2 shyts” what I think but you keep coming back to read my thoughts and react to them. You’re not only weak and easily controlled but also a liar. Now respond again fool, I command it.
You must really want attention. That’s a good one I’m weak but yet you came to swing on 3 peoples nuts.
Heheheh you are not just a fool but an obedient one, very nice!
Next I will require you to resolve your chronic nut fetish. Unfortunately, I’m not making any offers to help so handle those on your own Mr. McNutsack. Or do you prefer Nut Boy? Maybe Erin NutsOnTheMind? Let me know which of those fits you best. BTW that is a command my little obedient fool.
You can try to twist it however you like. You replied to me first not the other way around.
Don’t be sad Erin NutsOnTheMind… go to your happy place. So, I was wondering, is it a normal thing for you to so deeply engage with people whom you don’t give “2 shyts” about what they think?
Here comes the white knight lmao.
What Chris said was not an opinion.
Electric Cars will go over like a lead balloon!!!!!!!!!!
They are not ready for prime time. Very few would be sold without Government subsidies.
I’ve not seen it anywhere, but I thought EV’s still use resistance heating. Have any switched to heat pumps? AC is not the problem, heat is. I use little 12Amp/120V (1.4KW) heaters in the bathroom in the winter to take the chill off when I shower. Even 1.4KW doesn’t do much and that is in a house heated to 65 already. I could easily see a EV needing 5-10KW of heat when it is 20F outside. That is going to kill range. I am surprised I’ve not seen EV’s touting heat pumps. Although at 20F, a heat pump’s COP isn’t that much better than resistance heating. Maybe 2X.
Yes there are several electric vehicles with heat pumps.
The problem is that R134a is banned due to GWP, and the replacement, R1234yf is inefficient for heat pumps. Even for cooling, cars with R1234yf have to use a secondary heat exchanger (IHX) to keep the efficiency up.
You have the same problem in residential, R410A is being replaced by R32 and to make that work in heat pumps efficiently, they have to add more complicated valves and heat exchange systems.
I think they will use a reflective mode to deflect the sun vs a metal painted one that wouls absorb the heat.
They have been using some paints on some vehicle that also defects heat and sun.
What do they use now on those glass roofs?
Mostly smoked glass. There are more efficient materials on some higher end models.
Lets put it this way Sun Shades are a sign of inefficenty.
More than likely, the CELESTIQ may have two roofs as an option since they will be bespoke. The full glass will be a wonderful feature for those who like natural sunlight but can’t stand the natural air for those who are allergy sufferers whereas for those people who likes the natural air on ideal temperature days to opt for a moonroof. Hopefully, the regular moonroof will get the SPD-SmartGlass tech too.
Not the Elmiraj, simply a mirage.