Company to Showcase Thermal Management System That
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Electric vehicles (“EVs”) are all about efficiency. Unlike conventional vehicles, which rely on internal combustion engines, electric cars are powered by rechargeable lithium-ion batteries. The goal is to reduce energy wastage and make the vehicle function as efficiently as possible to increase its range. For instance, EVs tend to have aerodynamic designs to reduce drag, and due to the immense weight of their batteries, they are designed to be as lightweight as possible.
But while petrol- and diesel-powered cars use grill-covered openings to allow for airflow, electric vehicles don’t use grills because they do not derive their power from combustion. Hence manufacturers have to come up with novel and efficient thermal-management methods that are uniquely suited for electric vehicles. This is especially tricky for electric vehicles because too much heat will stress the battery and impact battery performance, charging speed, longevity and even the battery’s lifespan.
Since there are several components that need cooling for the vehicle to function effectively, Brose, a German automotive components supplier, has developed an integrated thermal management system designed to increase efficiency. The company will showcase the system next month at the International Motor Show (“IAA”) in Munich. Brose’s system actively controls the heat exchange between the outside air and numerous components including the air conditioning system and the battery. The new thermal-management system also employs a radial fan for airflow that is much quieter compared to conventional systems and makes the cooling system much more efficient.
Typically, air conditioning (“AC”) will consume significant amounts of energy, second only to the car’s electric drive system; the use of AC is capable of reducing an EV’s range by up to 33%. Brose’s new system is designed to efficiently distribute the heat inside the vehicle without compromising the occupants’ comfort. In fact, Brose claims its new integrated thermal-management system is so efficient it can add an extra 37 miles (60 km) to an electric vehicle with a 249 mile (400 km) range, extending it by up to 15%. One ingenious idea involves using waste heat generated while charging the battery to heat the inside of the vehicle during the winter months.
Executive vice president of the Drives Brose Group Raymund Mutz hopes his company’s new thermal-management system has a positive impact on the electrification movement. By making electric vehicles run as efficiently as possible, it becomes feasible to scale down the batteries and make them smaller, which in turn reduces manufacturing costs and vehicle weight. With plenty of drivers reporting range anxiety as one of the main factors keeping them from purchasing EVs, thermal-management technology could have a significant impact.
As these thermal control systems become widely used, they will no doubt become a standard feature of any future EVs that sector players such as Net Element (NASDAQ: NETE), together with its partner Mullen Technologies Inc., bring to market.
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