Abstract: A heating system for a vehicle passenger compartment, the vehicle being propelled by an internal combustion engine having an exhaust system that includes a catalytic converter for exhaust gas emission control. The vehicle passenger compartment has a conventional heater case containing air distribution channeling ducts, air outlets, control valves and a blower for forcing air through the ducts. A heat pipe coupled to a heat exchanger located in the engine exhaust system downstream of the catalytic converter is utilized to transfer exhaust gas heat to the heater case thereby eliminating the conventional heater core, and its related plumbing, that utilizes engine coolant as a heat source.