A wiper system for vehicles is provided. The system includes a heated wiper blade assembly, a heated cowl assembly and a controller. The controller receives input from one or more sensors or systems and causes a power source to provide, reduce or stop power to heating elements in the blade and/or cowl depending upon sensed conditions. At least some components in the assembly comprise thermally conductive polymers. The system provides surprisingly advantageous results in that it is effective for melting and clearing ice and snow with a lower than expected pull on a power source such as a battery.

Vehicle apparatus includes a glass windshield and a wiper system. A wiper blade has a parking region on the windshield. A deicer selectably provides heat to the parking region. A windshield temperature sensor detects a temperature of the windshield at the parking region. A head-up display is mounted proximate the windshield to display a temperature indicator responsive to the detected temperature. An automatic control circuit is configured to automatically deactivate the deicer when detecting a deiced condition in response to the detected temperature. A manual control element is configured to manually activate and deactivate the deicer. Thus, excessive heating can be avoided based on feedback of the windshield temperature. In addition, the driver is reminded that the deicer is active in a way that simultaneously provides information enabling the driver to independently evaluate the vehicle conditions and to make informed decisions about when to intervene in the automatic operation.

A method of preventing a windshield wiper from freezing to a windshield of a vehicle is provided. The method broadly includes the steps of: (a) monitoring a state of the windshield wiper; (b) initiating a timer when the state of the windshield wiper changes from an off state to an on state; sensing an ambient temperature of the vehicle a first period of time after initiation of the timer if the windshield wiper remains in the on state; and (c) warming a portion of the windshield where the windshield wiper resides in the off state if the sensed ambient temperature of the vehicle is near or below zero degrees Celsius.