Thermal management is the key to efficient e-mobility. Heating and cooling in vehicles is an essential technology field for electrification.
Jumana Al-Sibai, a member of the Management Board of the Mahle Group opined that the sales potential for thermal management in e-cars is three times higher than for vehicles with combustion engines. Thermal management is the driver of electrification at Mahle. The market for these technologies is growing significantly due to e‑mobility.
The Group has developed innovative technologies to increase the cruising range and fast-charging capability of electric vehicles, as well as to bring more comfort to e-cars. It now wishes to further expand its established status as a systems provider with a focus on energy efficiency and air conditioning.
When it comes to e-cars, key acceptance factors for end customers depend on thermal management: the service life of the battery, the cruising range of the e‑car, the performance of the drive system, and fast-charging capability. Each component of the drive system requires the correct temperature at all times and under all climatic conditions. Thermal management ensures a feel-good climate in the vehicle cabin-comfort for the driver. The interior air conditioning must have as little influence as possible on the cruising range. This results in high demands on the complete system and the complexity and value of the individual components increase considerably. For compact electric vehicles (C segment), for example, Mahle expects the value of components to increase by more than 100 percent in comparison with a car with an internal combustion engine..
Mahle has developed a new thermal management module to reduce the cost and complexity of the system while increasing efficiency. It combines, for instance, a heat exchanger, coolant pumps, condenser, chiller, sensors and valves in one unit. This saves the installation space, engineering effort and costs.
Mahle has also developed numerous new system components, such as an electric fan. It ensures efficient cooling during charging and remains pleasantly quiet. Air-conditioning compressors also play an important role. Another product includes the battery cooling plates, which ensure fast charging, long cruising range and long service life for sensitive lithium-ion batteries.