A system configured to determine a physical state of a vehicle occupant within a vehicle is described herein. The system includes an electrode in contact with the vehicle occupant and containing nano-scale metal fibers or carbon nanotubes and a controller that determines the physical state of the vehicle occupant based on an output of the electrode. The controller initiates a countermeasure based on the physical state of the vehicle occupant. A system configured to generate electricity based upon a temperature difference between a vehicle occupant and a portion of a vehicle interior is also presented herein. This system includes a thermoelectric device containing nano-scale metal fibers or carbon nanotubes. The thermoelectric device has a first side in contact with a vehicle occupant and a second side in contact with a portion of the vehicle interior. The thermoelectric device supplies electrical power to an electrical system of the vehicle.