Passive solar heating of an electric bus

Existing heating systems in electric vehicles in cold climates result in loss in range with resistance heaters or air pollution with fossil fuel heaters. This study has as its goal the heating of an electric bus with almost no battery energy use and no fossil fuel in a climate similar to that of Boston with a design ambient temperature of 0 F ({minus}18 C). The author uses classic passive solar design strategies: minimize heat loss, use heat-recovery ventilators, add glazing layers to a large window area, and store heat in phase-change materials. The result is a solar/thermal management system which utilizes very little battery energy, has a cost which should be competitive with fossil-fuel and resistance heaters, has a small range impact, utilizes materials which have a lower environmental impact than battery materials and certainly fossil-fuel heaters, and should be convenient to use. The insulation and weatherization, heat recovery ventilators, extra glazings, and a prototype phase-change storage system have all been implemented on the first electric bus in New England/New York. Initial results are encouraging.