GM has filed a patent for a new system and method for automatically clearing snow and ice off the windows of an electric vehicle. The patent application was assigned patent number US 2024/0198968 A1 with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), and was published on June 20th, 2024. The patent was originally filed on December 14th, 2022, and lists several engineers as the inventors, including Connor Duesterwald, Desigan Padayachee, Anna Siniavina, Stacey M. Marmara, Michael D. Alarcon, and Patrick Giancarlo Gabriel DiGioacchino.
The patent describes a system that encompasses sensors, a communications system, and a snow-clearing mechanism to detect snow accumulation and notify the vehicle owner, requesting permission to use battery power to clear the snow.
The system works by first identifying snow on the windows of the electric vehicle. A notification is then sent to the user’s device, asking for permission to use the vehicle’s battery to clear the snow. If the user approves, the system proceeds by activating the snow clearing system. The snow clearing system uses the battery power to remove the snow from the windows.
The snow clearing system includes components like wipers and heaters to remove the snow accumulation. The system can also adapt its operation based on factors such as the rate of snow accumulation and battery charge levels, ensuring that the snow clearing process is efficient and minimizes battery usage. This system is designed to enhance the convenience and safety for electric vehicle owners by providing an automated solution to keep the windows clear of snow.
While electric vehicles typically return fewer miles-per-charge in colder climates, automatic systems like the one described in the new General Motors patent could improve usability for those owners living where it snows regularly.
As covered previously, General motors is committed to fully electrifying its light-duty vehicle lineup by 2035.
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Comments
If every state would adopt a law similar to New Hampshire regarding snow clearing and then actively enforce it, we wouldn’t need these automated snow clearing systems. The ultimate responsibility is the driver.
Hard to see how this is worthy of a patent. With remote start cars you’ve been able to do this for years. This just adds an automatic prompt and some sensors. Sort of obvious, and that makes it not worthy of a patent.
I don’t need a sensor to tell me my windshield needs to be cleared off. Stupid, another thing that’s costs money that has the potential to fail. It might be better if gm authority didn’t disclose these brilliant patients gm wastes there time on.
Yes… another thing that will cost an arm, a leg and a kidney
Hey, those guys probably got a big raise and a bonus for filing that patent. You guys need to lighten up. Nobody said it had to be a good idea …….
This would be a great feature for elderly people or for those whose physical capacities are limited. Removing some snow is one thing but if you have to scrape ice for a sustained amount of time, it can physically draining for the less healthy. I like this idea, especially if it’s used while the vehicle is plugged in and the batteries can be replenished once the snow melting procedure is complete.
Or have a heater-core from fuel burning …and another of this years Great Lakes freeze-ups can be avoided …and iron phosphate cells will work better …then cars can be engineered to be cheaper. Anti-carbon zealotry is hurting the case for EVs, keep cutting off your noses to spite your faces.
Kevin, those with those issues probably shouldn’t be driving anyways as they are more of a danger on the road to others. Driving isn’t a right, it’s a privilege and we need to start remembering that.