Lexus has selected Amerigon Inc.'s climate control seat system for the 2008 Lexus LS 600h L, a hybrid vehicle expected in U.S. showrooms this summer. Amerigon's CCS allows the driver and passengers to actively heat or cool their seats individually for personal comfort. It will be offered as a standard feature in the front row and as a rear-seat option on the LS 600h L.
Amerigon president and chief executive officer Daniel R. Coker said the CCS operates independently of the heating and air conditioning (HVAC) system, thus it can reduce the load on a vehicle's engine. The system is built around a solid-state thermoelectric device that rapidly converts electric current into the desired thermal effect without using CFCs or other environmentally sensitive coolants.