47th International Vienna Motor Symposium

Innovative Thermal Management to Improve EV Battery Performance

Authors

V. Null, T. Rockstroh, Shell Global Solutions (Deutschland) GmbH, Hamburg; R. Mainwaring, Shell Research Limited (retired), Chester; F. Zhang, Shell (Shanghai) Technology Limited, Shanghai, China

Year

2026

Print Info

Production/Publication ÖVK

Summary

The rapid shift to electric vehicles is increasing performance demands on traction batteries, especially for fast‑charging, safety, and durability. Higher electrical loads and new safety regulations increase the need for effective thermal management during high‑power operation.

Immersive cooling with dielectric fluids is emerging as a strong alternative to indirect waterglycol systems. Surrounding cells with a thermally efficient, electrically non‑conductive fluid improves temperature uniformity, enhances safety under abuse conditions, and supports charging times of about ten minutes, as demonstrated in joint testing with pack suppliers.

Replacing a conventional hybrid‑truck battery with an immersive‑cooled design further stabilizes temperatures under heavy loads, extending battery life and reducing fuel consumption. Beyond pack performance, vehicle integration in EV´s can also be simplified through a unified thermal circuit connecting battery, inverter, motor, chiller, and radiator. This can reduce system complexity and support more compact, cost-effective designs. Ultimately, immersive cooling enables faster charging, greater safety, and longer battery life. 

This makes EVs more efficient, simpler to integrate, and more cost‑competitive across segments.

ISBN

978-3-9504969-5-6

DOI

https://doi.org/10.62626/1m9h-zdmq

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