摘要：Recently, eco-friendly vehicles such as electric vehicles or hybrid electric vehicles have been brought to public attention. However, the deterioration of energy efficiency when the heater system is operated represents a potential problem for these vehicles. The vehicle cabin environment thus needs to be designed to be comfortable using less heater energy. As a technical solution, a heated seat was focused on. In the present study, the effects of regional heating by a heated seat on thermal sensation were investigated at 15°C. Eight subjects participated in a subjective experiment. The experimental conditions were designed in terms of different heated areas: none (unheated), seat back, buttocks, thigh and seat cushion (buttocks & thigh). Subjects were exposed to each condition for 30 min with an air temperature of 15°C and clo value of 1.0. The heating of a seat cushion was more effective than that of a seat back to improve overall thermal sensation. The main reasons for this were as follows: (1) The area of the seat cushion was larger than that of the seat back. Thus, the power for heating the body was greater with seat cushion heating. (2) Buttocks and thigh sensed warmth with a lower skin temperature than back. The difference of skin temperature between seat back and seat cushion to sense the same thermal sensation was about 1°C. (3) The heating of the seat cushion could increase thermal sensation not only in the heated body part but also in unheated parts such as hand or foot. Conversely, the heating of the seat back increased only the thermal sensation of the back.
