Smart Approach for the Thermal Management of Electric Vehicles

Abstract

Increasing passenger comfort and energy efficiency requires stringent development processes for the thermal management of an electric vehicle. Using the Thermal Lab tool, AVL has set up a smart development method for the analysis of the air conditioning system, which can also be applied to autonomous people movers and trucks. g A sound understanding of thermo-dynamics is the basis for the successful development of vehicles with an efficient and consistent interaction of all systems and components. An innovative thermal management strategy for a Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) balances the energy demand and extends the lifetime of the car components-particularly of the battery-at optimal levels of efficiency [1, 2]. At the same time, the best possible comfort for the occupants is ensured. At AVL, this smart approach is called Vehicle Thermal Management Strategy (VTMS). TODAY'S EFFICIENCY CHALLENGES Are efficiency and comfort conflicting objectives? Under extreme conditions, the range of a BEV is reduced by up to 50 % as soon as the system of Heating, Venti lation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) in the passenger compartment is activated. Eliminating the significant waste heat from the combustion engine in BEVs poses the challenge of handling the energy as efficiently as possible so that both the passenger compartment and the components can be kept at the right temperature with minimum energy demand.