Analysis of Thermal Management Systems for Electric Mo-bility Applications: Meeting the Needs of Future Trends

Abstract:

The global shift towards electric mobility requires a comprehensive transformation of the transportation sector. One of the main components of electric powertrains is the battery and its associated systems, which must meet a wide range of needs in terms of different scenarios of application. One of the major challenges in designing these sys-tems is managing the heat generated during charge and discharge in combination with high power densities. Additionally, the integration of all-solid-state battery cells, which are likely to be used in the future, comes with reduced thermal conductivity of utilized materials and a higher sensitivity regarding temperature fluctuations compared to tradi-tional Li-ion cells. Therefore, an appropriately designed thermal management system is of critical importance.

The research presented here pursues a comparative analysis and gives an overview of different cooling systems available for electric mobility applications. Based on literature studies and expert interviews, the specific requirements and growth potential of differ-ent market segments were evaluated. Additionally, technology trends and their implica-tions for thermal management were interpreted at cell level. Consequently, a market prediction could be made for the need of dedicated solutions for thermal management of battery systems.

The key results of the analysis comprise the following: 1.) Different market segments require different cooling concepts, 2.) there are 12 main trends to be considered in the development of future thermal management systems (TMS), and 3.) the combination of market segment-specific growth rates and TMS trends forecast the enforcement of individual special TMS solutions in the future. These results contribute to the orienta-tion of market participants and enable for a demand-oriented allocation of resources for technology breakthroughs. The results will help to optimize the future design of battery systems and support the industry in meeting the needs of different application scenarios.