A recent breakthrough in battery cooling could help electric vehicles charge faster, last longer, and stay safer.
According to Business Motoring, Castrol just partnered with LION Smart to develop a next-generation battery module that tackles one of the biggest challenges in electric cars: keeping batteries cool enough to run efficiently without overheating.
Their solution uses direct battery cooling, a method that submerges battery cells in a lightweight fluid designed to whisk heat away quickly and evenly.
Today's fast charging speeds and high-power driving put a lot of strain on EV batteries. Too much heat can shorten battery life or, in extreme cases, permanently damage the battery.
Castrol's specialized thermal fluid, Castrol ON EV Thermal Fluids, is engineered to absorb heat rapidly, helping batteries stay at a stable temperature during charging and everyday use.
According to the companies, this upgraded cooling approach could make EVs safer and more dependable for everyday drivers. A cooler battery is a longer-lasting battery, which means fewer expensive replacements over the lifetime of a vehicle.
Plus, it also boosts performance, helping drivers get the most out of every charge. Considering that EVs use 87% to 91% of battery energy, this level of efficiency is important.
The new battery module also includes a "single cell fuse" designed to reduce the risk of heat spreading if a cell malfunctions. This is an important safety feature as EV adoption grows.
Better cooling isn't just good for drivers, it's also good for our communities.
One study from Duke University found that, when simulating a future powered by EVs, users could potentially reduce pollution by around 485 pounds of CO2 by 2030 and another 280 pounds by 2050. When EVs run more efficiently and last longer, more people feel confident making the switch away from gas-powered cars.
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Castrol's Matthias Donner called direct battery cooling a "transformative technology" that brings EVs one step closer to faster charging and better performance, per Business Motoring. And for drivers looking for cleaner, cheaper transportation, that's news worth celebrating.
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