food for thought: is tint worse for range?

[Eclipse3EB]

A big selling point of tints is heat rejection. Your car feels cooler - great! You need to run your a/c less, which gives you more range - even better!

But what about in the winter when you might want the extra heat? Given that EV range suffers more with heating than a/c, wouldn't the range lost during the winter be greater than the range gained in the summer?

In other words, for those of us super concerned with maximizing range, aren't tints actually a bad idea (ignoring all the other cosmetic factors)?

 

[StellarRat]

You'd have less resistance from sunlight if the photons were absorbed instead of reflected. So, I'm thinking tint probably gives you a slight range boost. It's hard to say for sure though since the tint itself adds weight to your car.

 

[Fusion]

A warm coat. Free.

 

[derekmw]

A big selling point of tints is heat rejection. Your car feels cooler - great! You need to run your a/c less, which gives you more range - even better!

But what about in the winter when you might want the extra heat? Given that EV range suffers more with heating than a/c, wouldn't the range lost during the winter be greater than the range gained in the summer?

In other words, for those of us super concerned with maximizing range, aren't tints actually a bad idea (ignoring all the other cosmetic factors)?

You're right. You should tint it in the summer and strip it off during winters.

 

[JeffK]

Assuming heat rejection works both ways, it should keep your car warmer in the winter because you'll lose less heat through radiation.

 

[mwoody999]

We in Northern Colorado have 100+ degrees on handful number of days. Winter is not as brutal as in parts of Northeast and Midwest so I decide not to tint my M3 just like my two of the three other cars. It definitely helps a bit during winter when inside is slightly warmer than a tinted interior. But even if you lose 10-15% of range due to extreme temps, electricity is so cheap. You will spend a few pennies more per charge due to the lost range.

 

[Eclipse3EB]

Assuming heat rejection works both ways, it should keep your car warmer in the winter because you'll lose less heat through radiation.

Hmm, I don't think that's the case. Don't tints work by rejecting solar energy and not radiant energy?

 

[MXWing]

Can't stand the look of a car without tint.

I'll push it to the next SC before going tintless.

 

[Timmy T.]

I'm in GA 30 mins. north of Jacksonville - any shops that anyone can recommend for my M#?? I have no clue where to begin. %??

 

[JeffK]

Hmm, I don't think that's the case. Don't tints work by rejecting solar energy and not radiant energy?

No it's all radiation (it's certainly not conduction or convection from the Sun since it's insulated by the vacuum of space).

Tints don't generally reject heat, the absorb light/heat but we're talking about stuff like 3M Crystalline films/tints which reflect IR (heat rejection). If it forms a reflective surface for IR and assuming it's not directional then it should trap IR in the car. You'll still get heat losses by other means, but in theory, it should stay warmer longer once you heat it.

 

[tpatana]

You'd have less resistance from sunlight if the photons were absorbed instead of reflected. So, I'm thinking tint probably gives you a slight range boost. It's hard to say for sure though since the tint itself adds weight to your car.

Sir William Crookes might debate with you.

 

[tpatana]

No it's all radiation (it's certainly not conduction or convection from the Sun since it's insulated by the vacuum of space).

Tints don't generally reject heat, the absorb light/heat but we're talking about stuff like 3M Crystalline films/tints which reflect IR (heat rejection). If it forms a reflective surface for IR and assuming it's not directional then it should trap IR in the car. You'll still get heat losses by other means, but in theory, it should stay warmer longer once you heat it.

When sun energy is transferred by any other means than radiation, I think we have bigger problems.

 

[Point 3]

A big selling point of tints is heat rejection. Your car feels cooler - great! You need to run your a/c less, which gives you more range - even better!

But what about in the winter when you might want the extra heat? Given that EV range suffers more with heating than a/c, wouldn't the range lost during the winter be greater than the range gained in the summer?

In other words, for those of us super concerned with maximizing range, aren't tints actually a bad idea (ignoring all the other cosmetic factors)?

Which is why I didn’t tint the glass roof and ordered the removable sunshade instead

 

[MXWing]

Which is why I didn’t tint the glass roof and ordered the removable sunshade instead

You're in SoCal..

If you don't limo tint your car all around, the Police will think you are hiding something for sure.

 

[gambit48]

The car still has seat heaters and those barely use any energy compared to heat from the a/c. In the Bay Area, the seat heaters should be plenty to warm you up.

 

[SageBrush]

But what about in the winter when you might want the extra heat?

The tint keeps the cabin heat from escaping via the roof. I think clouds on a cold winter night is a good analogy.

 

[ℬête Noire]

My biggest concern with tint is my expectation to road tour a lot, and the uneven laws across the country. The Good Faith Constitutional Clause doesn't cover you on this, the legality of the tint isn't determined by the State the vehicle is registered in but the State the vehicle is physically sitting in.

Automotive Window Film State Law Charts - International Window Film Association | IWFA.com

Still, living in TX I'm not ready to live with the most restrictive state/provinces limits, because they weren't designed for this climate. Hopefully not being gratuitous about it will keep me from getting hassled and ticketed.

 

[SSedan]

Car does not heat the interior to stop it from getting too cold, most of us do use cabin over temp protection.

 

[StellarRat]

Sir William Crookes might debate with you.

Hmm...I just read his bio. I didn't even know that glass working is dangerous for your eyes. Makes sense. You learn something new everyday.

 

[jskco]

This post came up while I was doing some research today. First, let's talk about weight. A 100-foot tint roll weighs 11.5 pounds, 2.5 of which is packaging. That is a net weight of 9 lbs per 100 lft of 40" film (2 Mil Ceramic Film) . To tint all sides, windshield, and partial glass takes 14.5' of film of which roughly 40% is waste (see below). That means all in all you will use the equivalent of 8.7 lft of 40" film. That means we are adding .783 pounds of weight to the vehicle. That is less than the average disposable water bottle, never mind a refillable one.

The right film will reduce solar heat gain by over 90%. Really good films like Ultimate IR will reduce over 95% with a 70% VLT film. Forgetting for a minute of all the research and science. By blocking 95% of the heat that comes through your windows, how much do you think you are going to reduce the draw on your cooling system?

Research suggests that it helps in the winter as well. That research is powered by the major brands. I have talked about it with several people who know way more about the science than I do, and they are convinced it is true. I do not know enough to say.

Screenshot from More with Core.