Car heating systems have been around for a long time, although they have obviously changed a lot over the course of automobile history. Portable heaters like the ones used in horse drawn carriages were the first types of heaters to be used, but they eventually gave way to newer designs that used the car’s own heat and air to warm the interior. Our modern design is most closely related to a radiator and fan heating system that was developed in the early 20th century.

There are a variety of different types of car heaters. A basic heating system in modern cars is set by manual dashboard controls. These have dials and switches that change the temperature of the heat, the strength of the fan and where the heat is being directed in the car, i.e. to the windshield, the feet, the passengers, etc. Often these days there will even be separate controls for the driver and the passengers so that everyone’s comfort needs are met.

There are also automatic climate control systems available. One can choose specific settings for the temperature of the car using buttons on the system’s interface that tell it where to direct air, how strongly, and at what specific temperature. Once this is set the climate control system uses sensors to determine the existing temperature of the car and then work to change it to the desired temperature.

Just like the old days there are still portable car heaters available as well, although we’ve come a long way from gas lamps. These days you can find heaters that either attach directly to your battery or plug into your 12 volt cigarette lighter. Some are meant for the car in general, or the backseat. Other smaller units are meant more for defrosting windows than heating the entire car. They are not meant to replace a malfunctioning heating system, they’re intended to supplement your existing system to get more warm air flowing.

With the variety of different types of car heaters available to modern drivers, the days of open cabins and gas lamp heat are far behind us. Drivers have multiple choices intended to provide the best and most convenient comfort for the climate of their vehicle. Whether you invest in an automated climate control system or choose a simple manual control you can even add portable heaters to make your car as comfortable as your own home.