GM has filed a patent application for a portable vehicle HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) system. The application was assigned patent number US 2025/0026174 A1 with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and was published on January 23rd, 2025. The GM patent filing was originally submitted on July 20th, 2023, and lists several Michigan-based engineers as the inventors, including Kenneth Wonseok Choi, Vincent Keanan Traina, and Thiago Canola Afonso.
Unlike traditional HVAC systems, which are permanently integrated into the dashboard or fixed in some other location in a vehicle, the system described in this GM patent application is unique as it can be disconnected from the vehicle when desired, providing a degree of added versatility.
The portable HVAC system includes a housing equipped with an outlet that delivers heated or cooled air into the vehicle’s cabin through a duct. This system operates in two ways. In the first configuration, the HVAC unit outlet is connected to the duct, allowing air to flow directly into the vehicle’s cabin. In a second configuration, the HVAC system is decoupled from the duct, making it portable / storable, depending on the individual’s requirements.
Some configurations show the portable HVAC unit in the vehicle’s trunk, where it can slide or be moved into position to connect with the vehicle duct as needed. The unit contains the usual HVAC components, such as a compressor, condenser, and evaporator, all of which are housed in a compact and portable design. Additionally, the system may feature an automatic connection mechanism that activates the HVAC unit when it is properly aligned and moved into the connected configuration.
This system offers several advantages – in addition to transportability, this system can be stored in less intrusive locations, such as the trunk. Furthermore, the modular nature of the system means it could serve multiple vehicles or purposes, offering a level of flexibility that fixed systems cannot. Maintenance and repair are also simplified since the unit can be detached and serviced independently.
Comments
This is interesting, especially as vehicles slowly transition to EVs. In an ICE vehicle, these devices are driven by compressors powered by the ICE. For EVs, these things are just connections to an electric power source. Things become a lot more modular. The inverter, AC units, DC-DC converter, etc., are the same on the Hummer as on the Lyriq, Silverado, Equinox, Blazer, etc.
They should collaborate with Frigidaire to bring things full circle.
I’m sure they will make this an option you have to purchase if you want heat, etc.
Then to use it, you’ll have to buy a subscription.
I was going to say this design probably means HVAC isn’t standard equipment, you’ll have to pay extra.
If it’s not standard equipment, it will probably not be included when projected range is calculated. Sandbagging the numbers.
It would be nice if this could be used in classic cars. Living in Florida I can’t drive my classics much if they don’t have AC which is a lot of cars. Even my 54 Corvette convertible would get more use if I could have the old crotch cooler vent under the steering column
FIRob,
Ahh, the crotch cooler. Gone but not forgotten.
This was the first thing that went out on my Blazer EV. In the shop off & on for four months and it’s going on 10 months waiting for GM to replace the vehicle. The lemon law lacks a time limit so GM is dragging it out as long as they can.