Does seat ventilation use the air conditioning system?
2 Answers
"Seat ventilation uses the air conditioning system. Seat ventilation is a summer cooling device for car seat air conditioning. Although the automatic air conditioning can maintain a constant temperature inside the car during summer, the close contact between the passenger's body and the seat restricts airflow in the contact areas, making it difficult to dissipate sweat and causing discomfort. The seat ventilation system features a unique air circulation system that continuously delivers fresh air through small holes in the seat cushion and backrest. This prevents sweat accumulation on the hips and back, providing a comfortable riding environment and effectively improving air circulation in the areas where the body contacts the seat. Even during long rides, the contact surfaces between the body and the seat remain dry and comfortable. The seat ventilation system integrates a total of nine axial-flow fans into the high-quality foam padding within the seat: four in the backrest and five in the seat cushion. These fans draw fresh cabin air into the seat and guide it through a breathable middle layer, evenly distributing air across the entire seat. Special perforations in the upholstery allow air to pass through the leather, minimizing sweat accumulation. Depending on the vehicle model, a control device on the center console or the seat itself can adjust the fan speed across three levels. The highest fan speed can quickly cool seats heated by direct sunlight, ensuring comfort even during summer."
The seat ventilation system does not actually use the cold air from the air conditioning system to function. From my observation, it relies more on small built-in fans within the seat. These fans draw air directly from the outside or the interior of the car and then push the airflow through the seat surface to achieve a cooling effect. It operates independently of the air conditioning system but may share switch functions through the same electronic control panel. The air conditioning is responsible for compressing refrigerant to lower the overall cabin temperature, while ventilated seats are purely electrically driven, designed to avoid the high energy consumption of air conditioning; turning on the air conditioning increases fuel consumption by about 10%-15%, whereas the fans consume much less electricity. This separation makes the system more energy-efficient, allowing you to use seat ventilation alone on hot days while reducing air conditioning usage to save fuel. Additionally, the fan-based system is simpler to maintain and less prone to malfunctions. In modern car models, although the two are often integrated in operation, their core principles remain separate.
