High-Tech Eco-Friendly SMART Fabric Offers Improved Heating and Sensing

The Israeli start-up company ThermoSiv has succeeded in creating revolutionary fabric which features a long list of highly desirable cutting-edge properties. Using a unique technology, yarn is coated with a carbon conductive compound that is capable of providing a range of IoT solutions for heating, sensing, transferring data and more. The yarn is woven into flexible multipurpose fabric that is energy efficient and has numerous potential applications across a large range of verticals.

ThermoSiv’s fabric can radiate heat directly to targeted objects in its proximity, such as people or plants, keeping them warm without needlessly heating the surrounding air. As a result, the technology is highly energy efficient and “green,” helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while ensuring a comfortable temperature. The smart fabric is also suitable for a variety of other IoT applications, including touch sensing, proximity and more based on capacity and resistance measurement. The fabric is flexible and can be easily integrated into surfaces and items of all sizes. Just as importantly, it operates on both AC and DC current and can adapt to multiple energy sources ranging from 2.4V batteries to 220V grid supplies.

Important benefits for the car industry

ThermoSiv’s smart fabric is especially valuable to the automotive industry. The standard technology used to heat passenger cabins is inefficient since it involves heating the entire space regardless of the actual number of passengers. Moreover, owners of electric vehicles face a critical drawback stemming from the fact that cabin heat is not a by-product of the engine, as with gasoline powered cars; rather, heat must be generated from the car’s battery. In low temperatures, when large amounts of energy are diverted to heating the passenger cabin, this problem becomes acute, causing the cars’ total driving range to be dramatically shortened by up to 50%.

By integrating ThermoSiv fabric throughout the interior of the vehicle, passengers can be heated in a much more energy efficient manner. The fabric radiates heat directly where it is needed, according to the passengers’ preferences. Aside from the windows, nearly every part of the cabin can be fitted with the fabric below the surface, including the car ceiling, the dashboard, the seats, the arm rests, the steering wheel and the glove compartment. Passengers enjoy a comfortable environment that they can completely control, while at the same time significantly reducing energy consumption.

Another problem associated with electric cars is that their batteries are sensitive to the cold. When temperatures dip below 10 degrees Celsius, the cars’ batteries lose their power efficiency and require much longer charge times. Incorporating ThermoSiv fabric inside and around the car batteries enables them to withstand the cold weather and preserve their energy.

Since the smart fabric can also function as sensors, car manufacturers can use ThermoSiv’s product to achieve two purposes at the same time: both heating and sensing. The fabric can be incorporated into steering wheels and seats, where it can be activated to heat the driver and other passengers, while at the same time serving as a steering-angle sensor and as a sensor for ensuring seat belt usage, for example. Such a solution saves materials, energy and costs.

Large range of applications

In addition to its many advantages for the auto industry, ThermoSiv’s fabric offers important benefits to many other sectors as well. In agriculture, it can replace the traditional inefficient heating solutions for greenhouses, which require large amounts of fossil fuels, by heating only the plants and not the entire greenhouse. The fabric’s sensors monitor the temperature of each plant and, accordingly, control the amount of heat directed to each one.

The benefits of this technology are significant in regions with cold climates. A pilot conducted on cherry tomatoes resulted in a 250% increase in the crop’s yield! Another pilot involving vineyards in Israel and France was successful in preventing spring freeze. ThermoSiv can also be used on growing tables, providing focused, fully-controlled root heating for germination or pot crops. The system is easy to install, saves energy and reduces GHG pollution.

ThermoSiv is also highly effective in providing heating solutions for consumer goods such as bedding, pet beds and clothing for outdoor activities, requiring only a minimal power source. When the smart fabric is incorporated in jackets, for example, the wearer can control the temperature and enjoy fast, constant heating. The smart fabric is light and doesn’t affect the jacket’s overall appearance or comfort. The same is true for gloves, blankets and other items. Indeed, integrating ThermoSiv in wearable products can significantly improve the quality of life for people who are outdoors, or even indoors, in cold weather conditions.

Preparing for the next stage

ThermoSiv was founded in 2003 by Brig. Gen. (Ret.) David Agmon. Following a long R&D process, during which the company’s unique smart yarn was developed, it was reborn in 2015 as a commercially viable start-up with an expanded team that includes Yoram Ilan as CEO. The company is proud of its highly skilled and diverse staff, composed of experts from a range of professional and personal backgrounds.

The company is now in the process of developing the huge market potential for its smart fabric applications and is seeking additional investors and partners in order to accelerate the scale-up process. There is already a great deal of interest among manufacturers, especially in the automotive industry. Pilot projects have shown excellent results, and participating companies are enthusiastic about the product. ThermoSiv received a Horizon 2020 grant for agricultural solutions and a Seal of Excellence from the EU for its automotive solutions, among other honors.

In this era of growing environmental awareness, ThermoSiv is able to deliver high-quality solutions that enhance quality of life in a “green” manner, while reducing energy consumption.

Click here for more information.

Partnered with ThermoSiv