Shell concept EV rethinks thermal management fluid

Oil and gas giant Shell has unveiled a concept electric vehicle which uses a dielectric cooling fluid across a single shared circuit to manage both the battery and powertrain simultaneously.

The ‘Triple 10 Challenge’ concept EV achieves 10 to 80 per cent charge in just under 10 minutes on a standard 175kW charger, with a 10km/kWh economy target and an estimated lifecycle carbon footprint of 10 tonnes CO2e.

The key distinction from conventional thermal management is the Shell Recharge dielectric fluid, which incorporates battery cells, motor and power electronics in one shared cooling loop.

Traditional water-glycol systems require separate circuits for different components, adding mass and complexity. Shell claims the simplified architecture contributes to about a 25 per cent reduction in overall battery pack cost compared to a conventional EV..

The vehicle was co-engineered with RML, which developed the battery pack architecture, Empel Systems, which built the electric motor and drive units, and Horiba Mira, which handled integration and validation.

Cara Tredget, VP mobility and lubricants technology for Shell, said: “With the Triple 10 Challenge concept car, we have unlocked the potential for faster charging, lighter systems and improved lifecycle efficiency by using our advanced thermal fluids.

“Together with our co-engineering partners, we are proud to develop alternative options for sustainable EV development leveraging technologies that are available today and are scalable to support customers into the future.”