Shell Concept EV Features Innovative Thermal Management System
Shell's concept EV features an innovative thermal management system. Photo courtesy Shell plc
LONDON—Oil giant Shell has unveiled a concept vehicle that features an innovative thermal management system and an ultra-fast charging capability. The Triple 10 Challenge car is designed to “inspire a new design philosophy for the next generation of battery electric vehicles.” It features a cooling system where battery cells are indirectly cooled via fluids that improve overall energy efficiency by 30 percent.
The vehicle is able to charge its battery from 10 percent to 80 percent in 9 minutes 54 seconds, without compromise to thermal stability or lifespan. However, it does not require the use of an ultra-fast charger in excess of 300 kilowatts.
“With the Triple 10 Challenge concept car, we have unlocked the potential for faster charging, lighter systems and improved lifecycle efficiency,” says Cara Tredget, vice president of mobility and lubricants technology at Shell. “[It] is the first road-worthy vehicle to have successfully demonstrated the potential of a simplified, single-circuit cooling architecture to efficiently manage the thermal load of the car’s entire power train, even under the most extreme fast-charging scenario in real-world conditions.”
According to Tredget, the key to the car’s performance is Shell’s Recharge thermal fluid. “Unlike traditional cooling systems that use water-glycol, [this] dielectric fluid allows for direct immersion cooling of the battery and indirect cooling of the power train components including the motor and power electronics,” she points out.
“By incorporating a more compact and efficient battery pack design with fewer modules…enabling a simplified housing architecture, these improvements contribute to 25 percent reduction in overall battery pack cost compared to a conventional EV,” claims Tredget.
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