-19 degrees fahrenheit. That’s how cold it got last January in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, home to us at Omni Glass and Paint. In this frigid ice box we call a state, the brave souls here know a thing or two about heated windshields. They have to. Imagine trying to scrape the iced-over windshield of an industrial snowplow at 3:00 A.M. It’s not fun.
To spare others that discomfort and (potential) danger, we offer heated windshield solutions for the military, rail companies, and industrial snow plows.
Here’s a roundup of many vehicles that use heated windshields to keep their occupants safe, warm, and efficient in all kinds of weather.
Military Vehicles with Heated Windshields
Safety is #1 priority for a military vehicle. The last thing any soldier wants to do is unnecessarily expose himself to risk, especially if that means scraping an icy window. It’s no wonder then that militaries worldwide install heated windshields in many of their vehicles.
M1114 Up-Armored Humvee
Image credit to militaryfactory.com
The High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) or Humvee, for short, is the ubiquitous face of American military forces. Popularized by Desert Storm, it’s tough, versatile, and effective. It has primarily seen combat in the Middle East, but its flexibility allows it to be modified for other climates like the ones shown below:
Image credit to Wikipedia Commons
Image credit to Wikipedia Commons
Land Rover “Wolf”
Image credit to Wikipedia Commons
This upgraded, British version of the Land Rover Defender is stronger and more reliable than its predecessor. It comes in over two dozen variations, including a waterproof version with a snorkel, and a winterized version with heated windshields. Its nickname is easy to understand when you see it loaded up with weapons and troops.
Renault VAB Armored Personnel Carrier
Image credit to Wikipedia Commons
A firefight is a bad time for distractions. That’s why this French APC sports heated bullet-proof windshields, gun turrets, gun ports, and a lot more. They help protect their valuable cargo of ground troops and allow it to effectively scout enemy territory.
Snow Removal Vehicles with Heated Windshields
Snow is heavy. It can weigh over 20 pounds per cubic foot. Forget shoveling that by hand. For fast snow removal, airports and highway departments rely on tall, industrial snow plows. Since it’d be treacherous scraping a windshield that high off the ground, serious snow plows and snow blowers include heated windshields.
Oshkosh H-Series XF Broom
Image credit to Oshkosh Corporation
For light snow, Oshkosh’s H-Series literally sweeps it away like you would sweep up dust in the kitchen…except on a much, much larger scale. Its heated windshields keep the view clear.
Oshkosh P Series / MPT Series Chassis
Image credit to Oshkosh Corporation
When the snow falls wet and heavy, Oshkosh’s P-Series is more than its match. This beast gobbles up snow and spits it out. Its durable, all-wheel drive components can handle the worst weather, and its short hood and heated windshields offer maximum visibility for clearing airports of heavy snow.
The Road Blower
Image credit to Oshkosh Corporation
Mountain passes can be treacherous even in warm weather. But they can be death traps when it snows. That doesn’t concern Oshkosh’s Road Blower. It slowly and steadily climbs inclines, churning through feet of snow with its optional 700 horsepower blower engine. Ice build-up isn’t a problem. Its heated windshields keep visibility clear and the driver safely inside the cab instead of dangling over a cliff trying to scrape the windshield.
Rail Vehicles with Heated Windshields
Trains are like the United States Postal Service: Weather won’t stop them from delivering their goods. To keep them safely on the move, here are some of the freight transportation and commuter trains that rely on heated windshields to keep their vision clear.
The SD70MAC Freight Train
Image credit to alaskarails.org
Alaska is home to some of the world’s most brutal winters. In Fairbanks, along the Alaska Railroad route, average winter temperatures drop to −15 to −25° F, and they can even go as low as −75° F. In the midst of this deep freeze runs the “MACs” – a 4,000hp, 415,000 pound juggernaut.
Light Rail Vehicles
Image credit to Wikipedia Commons
LRVs, like the one picture above, are the arteries of a city. They transport workers to and from work, shoppers to and from downtown stores, and vacationers to and from museums and landmarks. They’re always on the move and can’t afford to miss a stop because of a frosty windshield.
Civilian Vehicles with Heated Windshields
You don’t have to be plowing dangerous mountain passes or on a military patrol to benefit from a heated windshield. Many luxury vehicles include heated windshields in their cold weather packages.
Hummer Series
Its civilian counterparts, like the Hummer H1, stormed into the public’s consciousness (and commandeered our roads) thanks largely to the enthusiastic support of Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bruce Willis and other celebrities. Like its combat brethren, civilian humvees can include heated windshields. Nothing slows down these beasts.
Image credit to Wikipedia Commons
Image credit to Wikipedia Commons
2015 Jaguar XF 2.0T Premium
Image credit to jaguarusa.com
Its cold climate package includes a heated steering wheel and heated windshield with timer.
2015 Mercedes-Benz G550 Luxury SUV
Image credit to mbusa.com
If you have over $110,000 to drop on a premium SUV, this V8 beast has everything you need to look good on- and off-road.
2015 Land Rover Discovery Sport
Image credit to landrover.com
Land Rover is considered one of (if not THE) most reliable off-road vehicle companies for civilian use. With their latest Discovery Sport, they combine their legendary durability with comfort including 2-zone climate control system, an 8-in. color infotainment system and an optional Climate Comfort package that includes heated front and rear seats, a heated windshield, and a heated steering wheel.
And if you’re in Antarctica…
If you happen to live near the arctic circle, or you would like cruise around on Antarctica, check out the Hellgeth BV206 CDI. It’s warm, includes a radar system, keeps your view clear with a heated windscreen, and…it floats. That’s right, this superwide snow crawler not only keeps you warm, but it also saves your life if you happen to stray too far onto an ice shelf and crack through.
