HOW ABOUT A JACKET WITH LIQUID COOLING?

Chiltier is an Indian deep-tech attempt at personal thermal management

- Words By: Sohil Nikam

India's hardware startup ecosystem sees plenty of ambitious ideas, but few that take on engineering-heavy challenges. Chiltier, a Made-in-India deep-tech startup, is attempting exactly that with a patent-pending wearable vest and pod system that can cool or heat the body on demand. The company is currently in its pre-launch phase, but its approach brings together thermoelectric (Peltier) technology, modular hardware, and a lightweight vest designed for people who spend long hours outdoors. Bikers are seemingly the main target, but this apparatus also sounds ideal for travellers and outdoor professionals who often face extreme temperatures.

THE CORE IDEA

At the centre of Chiltier’s system is a compact pod that does all the heavy lifting after it's connected to the jacket using a simple dual port connector. The vest itself contains discreet channels that distribute the cooled or heated liquid across the upper body. This approach is different from typical cooling jackets that depend on fans pushing ambient air inside, or industrial vests that use ice-based cooling packs. Thermoelectric systems offer instant heating or cooling without consumables, but they come with engineering challenges around efficiency and heat management, challenges the company claims to have addressed through internal design improvements.