Scientists discover most efficient way to defrost cars

By Stephen Beech

A more efficient way to defrost cars - using electricity to "zap" ice without heat or chemicals - is being developed.

Frost can cause chaos in winter, but thermal defrosting with heaters is very energy-intensive, while chemical defrosting is expensive and toxic to the environment.

Now researchers at Virginia Tech believe they have found a new and improved method for deicing.

Mechanical engineering Professor Jonathan Boreyko's philosophy is to combat ice by exploiting its own physics instead of using heat or chemicals, creating methods of frost removal that are more cost-effective and environmentally friendly.

The team's previous work leveraged the small amount of voltage that naturally exists within frost to polarise a nearby water film, creating an electric field t