The CCS system, co-produced with Motorola, was the world’s first heated and cooled seat system and remains the only system on the market to provide seat occupants individually controlled, active heating and cooling.
The product uses a proprietary solid-state heat pump combined with an active, microprocessor-controlled temperature management system. Ambient air is drawn into the system from the cabin of the vehicle and, based on input from individual seat controls and from temperature sensors built into CCS, the system’s advanced heat pump heats or cools the air. The heat pump is built around a solid-state thermoelectric device that rapidly converts electric current into the desired thermal effect (hot or cold).
CCS, which is integrated into a vehicle seat and operates through a self-contained and solid-state electronic cooling and heating system, is based on Amerigon’s proprietary thermoelectric device technology. Seats containing the CCS system were first introduced to consumers in January 2000 as an option for the 2001 model year Lincoln Navigator sports utility vehicle.
In September 2000, the product was selected as an option for the 2001 model year Lexus LS 430 premium luxury sedan. Analysts have since witnessed escalating sales for the product over the last three years with 2003 revenues increasing by more than 90% over the prior year to $29 million. Here the company shipped 446,000 systems to its clients.
Consequentially, CCS is now a standard feature in 14 popular vehicle lines made by five of the world’s leading automobile manufacturers: Ford, General Motors, Toyota, Nissan and Hyundai.
Recent independent market surveys continue to show high consumer interest in heated and cooled seats and we are very optimistic about the future of our technology. Other suppliers offer alternate products such as heated and ventilated seats; however, no one else can claim to actively cool automobile seats, said company CEO Daniel Coker in a statement to the press.
Last November, Amerigon posted details of an updated version of the system that incorporates a smaller micro thermal module allowing for easier installation. Additionally, the company has expanded its product development alliance with the telecoms giant Motorola.