Finer Temperature Control

It seems like whenever I am driving I need to play a ridiculous game of balancing the AC blower strength and the AC temperature control in order to get the climate in the car just the way I like. If I don''t fiddle with the knobs I either get too stuffy or too cold. The problem is that there are such large differences between each setting on the AC.

Now I will admit that it may be possible that some luxury cars implement the suggestion that I am about to make. I would not know. I do not drive those types of cars.

The thing is, thermistors (electronics that are sensitive to temperature) are not that expensive. It wouldn't be pricey to allow the driver to punch (or dial) in a specific temperature. If the ambient temperature is colder, the car turns off the AC (and possibly turns on the heat). If the temperature is warmer however the car kicks up the AC to optimal level to hit the target.

"But Richard," you might say, "What if the blower is a step motor that can only operate at specific levels." To that I reply there is an easy solution that is still cheap. A bypass vent connected to a servo. If you want to reduce the air from the blower simply redirect some of it elsewhere.

Ultimately I believe that either
1) This actually exists in luxury cars and I just need to drive a higher class of vehicle.
2) This is a good idea and has little barriers to limitation
3) I am simply too picky

Cooling Slats in Cars

When you park your car outside in the sun, it is going to get hot. It will get hotter than the the ambient temperature in fact. You can reduce this by putting one of those ugly reflectors in your window but most people are too lazy for that. Ultimately the only good way to fight this is by leaving your window open and having your car stolen.

But imagine if your car had a metal grating in the ceiling that could be closed up. While it is closed its like it is not even there. While open, the grating acts like a 'screen' and prevents would be thieves from gaining access to your car. However while criminals and other unwanted things could not pass through, the warm air would be able to rise right out of your car being replaced with 'cool' air from outside.

The system could be designed to automatically operate while your car is off. If the interior temperature is rising and it is cooler outside (and not raining) go ahead and open the grate cover. Determining if rain is coming down could be accomplished through a variety of relatively easy methods.

The entire system could run off, or at least partially run off, some small solar panels installed on the grate cover. The days on which it will be needing to operate will be the particularly sunny days when you are parked in the sun. It could even use the power output of these solar cells to determine if it should be opening or not.

While it will not keep your car cool in the same way an AC would, it would be a cheap, green, way to ensure your car does not feel like a pressure cooker when you get in.