According to Shell Lubricants, the development supports the broader adoption of battery electric vehicles by allowing higher cell charging currents without compromising performance.
In collaboration with the UK automotive innovation firm RML Group, Shell Lubricants created a 34 kWh battery pack using its EV-Plus Thermal Fluid featuring proprietary Gas-to-Liquid (GTL) technology. The system can charge from 10% to 80% in under ten minutes. Immersion cooling enables compact and lightweight battery designs capable of delivering up to five times more range per minute of charging than typical BEVs using current charging networks.
Shell EV-Plus Thermal Fluids are electrically non-conductive and fill all interstitial spaces within the battery pack, maximising direct contact with each cell. This ensures precise temperature control during rapid charging and provides enhanced protection against adverse thermal events. The fluids also reduce the number and mass of components required for conventional battery cooling systems, allowing more elegant and cost-effective pack designs.
“As we celebrate World EV Day, we are thrilled to demonstrate that Shell EV-Plus Thermal Fluids can help to significantly improve battery thermal performance, paving the way towards higher charging efficiencies, enhanced safety, convenience and cost-effectiveness— to support the widespread adoption of BEVs demanded by legislative initiatives around the world,” said Jason Wong, Global Executive Vice President of Shell Lubricants.
Robert Mainwaring, Shell’s lead engineer on the project, added: “Consumers are in pursuit of better energy efficiency, longer driving range and faster charging. Our ambition within this project was to show how Shell EV-Plus Thermal Fluids can support significant reductions in charging time without compromising cell integrity and lifetime. By embracing advanced thermal management solutions, we believe this will open the door to a new generation of more sustainable, efficient and cost-effective battery electric vehicle solutions.”
shell.com
