Do any cars have heated wiper blades?

[vi edit]

After going through one of the nastiest winters in history I've come to the conclusion that this would be one of the single most helpful "options" that you could put on a car.

Not much sucks worse than having your wiper blades get covered in ice rendering them useless and then having a semi blow past you covering your windshield in grime and gunk and then not being able to clean off your windshield because your wipers are one solid chunk of ice.

Solution: add a heating element of some sort to the wiper blade and keep it warm enough that ice doesn't collect on it.

Does any manufacturer offer this option?

 

[Viper GTS]

I would think that would kill the lifespan on the rubber, wouldn't it?

Viper GTS

 

[Vikaden]

I dont know if anyone does or not, but if not, invent one, maybe you can make some cash

 

[vi edit]

Viper, shortened life span or not, it would be more than worth it. Even if it cost me $25 a set, to me that's a small price to pay for the luxury of not having to pull over on the interstate in -20 degree weather to chip the ice out from under your wiper blades.

Hell, even if you had a "winter" wiper blade that you put on during the winter months it would be better than nothing.

 

[Talon]

They do exist but I don't know if they're any good. A quick search turned up these.

www.blizzardblade.com/
www.shasta.com/everblades/pricelist.html
www.autotruck.net/rspn/archives/1997/0497/497RAC.html
http://www.hotwipers.com/

 

[GL]

Actually, it would make more sense to add tiny heating element filaments into the front windshield like what is done in the rear one. But seriously, why not just use washer fluid in excess like we do up here in Canada. I've never had ice build up under the wipers and I've been through some winters where exposed skin would freeze in a matter of seconds.

-GL

 

[warlord]

nobody makes heated wiperblades. if you want to remove the chuck of ice, hit the button, and when it reaches the far left of the cycle pick it up and let it slap against the windshield. I only do this when driving, but someone smart may do it just before the move, so their windsheild wipers would work.

 

[KameLeon]

Attack of "The Devil"! Run!!!!

 

[cxim]

other simple thing to do... use half & half rubbing alcohol & water with a few drops of dish soap liquid for your WS washer fluid.

It will break up the ice & clean the gunk off velly well...

if temps are down around 0dF, use straight alcohol.

 

[Soybomb]

Winter blades exist, they just arent heated. they do an okay job but not enough to make me switch in the winter. I always pour in a bottle of isopropyl alcohol in the winter....between that and the defroster blowing on teh windshield I dont have any problems.

 

[prontospyder]

The Volkswagen Jetta and Passat have them as $300 options...(winter package)
even comes with heated seats....which by the way feels very comfy.

 

[bastula]

LOL, KameLeon!
I thought they were all the same person replying to each other!

Yes, heated blades would be useful. Slightly OT, what is the purpose of heated headlamp washers? I have seen this option on a few cars and was wondering what you would use it for.

 

[spec411]

just so the nozzles dont freeze