Thermoelectric cooling and heating system for non-idling vehicle

A method for cooling a vehicle cabin, the method comprising:

• determining a desired temperature of a vehicle cabin;
• determining a current temperature of the vehicle cabin;
• determining a temperature difference between the desired temperature and the current temperature;
• determining the temperature difference between the desired temperature and the current temperature indicates the desired temperature is lower than the current temperature;
• and
• in response to determining the temperature difference between the desired temperature and the current temperature indicates the desired temperature is lower than the current temperature, causing one or more thermoelectric cells to receive power from a power supply, wherein:
• the one or more thermoelectric cells have a first side and a second side, the second side mounted to a heatsink in thermal communication with an exterior of the vehicle cabin, and
• in response to receiving power, the one or more thermoelectric cells are operable to produce a temperature difference between the first side and the second side, thereby drawing heat from the vehicle cabin to the heatsink.

A vehicle, comprising:

• a vehicle cabin;
• a power supply;
• and
• a thermoelectric cooling system, comprising:
• a heatsink in thermal communication with an exterior of the vehicle cabin;
• one or more thermoelectric cells positioned within the vehicle cabin, each of the one or more thermoelectric cells having a first side and a second side, the second side mounted to the heatsink, wherein, in response to receiving power from the power supply, the one or more thermoelectric cells are operable to produce a temperature difference between the first side and the second side, thereby drawing heat from the vehicle cabin to the heatsink;
• and
• a control unit operable to control the power received by the one or more thermoelectric cells by:
• determining a temperature difference between a desired temperature and a current temperature,
• if the temperature difference between the desired temperature and the current temperature indicates the desired temperature is lower than the current temperature, causing the one or more thermoelectric cells to receive power from the power supply, and
• if the temperature difference between the desired temperature and the current temperature indicates the desired temperature is higher than the current temperature, causing the one or more thermoelectric cells to receive no power from the power supply.