<VV> Heated windshields (No Corvair)

[Wrsssatty at aol.com]

<I have often wondered why they (such windshields) aren't an option..  >
 
They are, Chuck.  Never heard of Ford's "InstaClear" (Ford Europe  calls it 
Quickclear) windshields?  There is a very thin layer of some metal  over 
the glass that conducts electricity.  It's such a thin layer that one  can see 
through it but the windshield does appear to be super tinted.  It's  a very 
expensive and, therefore, rarely chosen option on some high end cars  (e.g. 
Lincolns).  It works best for removing ice.  I would imagine  that even the 
very rich rarely choose the option because they, more than anyone,  have 
garages and therefore rarely have need for the option.  If you're  familiar 
with the EZ-Pass toll collection system then you know that the  "transponder" 
that transmits the toll information is usually mounted on the  inside of the 
windshield but it doesn't work with the InstaClear  windshields.  If you've 
ever seen a black horizontal bar mounted on the top  of a front license 
plate, that's the EZ-Pass transponder for a vehicle equipped  with the 
InstaClear windshield.  
 
_http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quickclear_ 
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quickclear) 
 
Another version trademarked by L-O-F is called ElectriClear.  I  believe GM 
uses ElectriClear.
 
Also, some Chrysler mini-vans have wire heating elements in the lower  
portion of the windshield like the ones found all over the back light of most  
cars and used as a rear defogger.  This is because the "cab-forward"  
windshield was found to place the windshield wipers too far forward of the  outlet 
vents for the defroster and winidshield wipers were staying frozen to the  
windshield so, on the second model year of that redesign Chrysler added the 
rear  defroster style wires under where the wipers rested.
 
~Bill Stanley