Shell Lubricants, has announced its thermal fluid technology has helped to enable a significant breakthrough in battery electric vehicle (BEV) architecture. Following successful development of an immersively-cooled battery pack, extensive testing has now proven that Shell EV-Plus Thermal Fluid with PurePlus Technology, can act as an all-in-one thermal management solution for the entire BEV power train. This innovation enables a simplified battery and powertrain design, supporting reduction in the number of components and vehicle weight, and helping to drive operational economy and cost-efficiency.
Shell, supported by HORIBA MIRA, a leading technology development company, has demonstrated that its specialised thermal fluid not only promotes outstanding thermal control in the battery pack during high-speed charging conditions, but is also effective at cooling the motor and power electronics whilst driving. The ultra-low viscosity Shell EV-Plus Thermal Fluid proved efficacious across a wide range of replicated conditions, from the extreme cold of an arctic winter to the scorching heat of a Saharan summer. This opens the door to an elegant single-fluid, single-circuit system design that can reduce component inventory and promotes enhanced vehicle performance and economy.
Shell’s EV-Plus Thermal Fluid features proprietary Shell PurePlus Technology which uses a crystal-clear 99.5% pure base oil made from natural gas with stronger molecular bonds, to improve BEV battery cooling. It opens the door to charging from 10% to 80% capacity in under 10 minutes through direct contact between the battery cells and the dielectric fluid. This announcement demonstrates that the same fluid is effective at transferring the heat from other electrical components even when the fluid and heat source are not in direct contact.
The full white paper ‘Cooling an entire BEV drivetrain with Shell’s Thermal Fluid for simplicity, operational economy and cost-efficiency’, covers details of the full power train testing, and is available for download via the link below.
