Electric vehicle (EV) charging times could be slashed dramatically thanks to a new “all-in-one” cooling fluid developed by Shell and UK automotive firm Horiba Mira. The fluid, dubbed EV-Plus Thermal Fluid, is designed to significantly improve battery cooling, potentially enabling a charge from 10% to 80% in less than 10 minutes.
Currently, long charging times are often cited as a major drawback for EVs compared to traditional gasoline cars. This new technology could address this concern head-on. How does it work? EV-Plus Thermal Fluid operates through “immersive cooling.” This means the fluid directly contacts the battery cells, allowing for more efficient heat dissipation than current thermal management systems in most EVs.
A Cooler Battery Means Faster Charging
According to Shell, superior cooling allows batteries to reach their thermal limit – the temperature at which charging speeds slow down – much slower. In essence, the battery can handle higher power input for longer, leading to drastically reduced charging times. This could revolutionize EV ownership by making them a more practical option for long journeys or daily commutes where time is limited.
Beyond Speed: Cost Savings and Enhanced Performance
Beyond rapid charging, EV-Plus offers potential cost savings for both manufacturers and consumers. Immersive cooling simplifies the overall cooling architecture needed for EVs, replacing complex and expensive systems with a single, streamlined solution. Shell claims this innovation could make EVs more affordable in the long run.
Robert Mainwaring, Shell’s lead engineer for the project, highlights the fluid’s versatility: “It shows that you don’t need a patchwork of cooling systems; one fluid can do it all, enabling ultra-fast charging and facilitating optimal drivetrain performance.”
Industry Leaders See a Bright Future
Dr. David Bridge, chief engineer at Horiba Mira, calls EV-Plus “a critical enabler for the future of electric vehicles.” He emphasizes the broader impact on the industry: “The ability to manage heat effectively across the entire powertrain is fundamental to unlocking the full potential of BEV technology, enabling faster charging, improved safety, and longer component life.”
Shell remains optimistic about bringing this technology to market soon. While the exact timeline depends on automakers adopting it in their vehicles, Cara Tredget, vice president for Shell Mobility and Lubricants Technology, assures: “Our hope is for this breakthrough to help shape the next generation of EVs…We are confident in the potential of our thermal fluid for implementation in the not-too-distant future.”
