Not only is there a concern about mileage, but the battery anxiety and lifespan anxiety of new energy vehicles are also related to the thermal management system.As one of the core technologies of new energy vehicles in addition to the "three electric" technologies, thermal management system has become another "arena" for domestic and foreign car companies to compete.
Not only domestic and foreign vehicle companies such as Tesla, BMW, SAIC, BYD, and NIO have increased their focus on vehicle-level thermal management in electric vehicles, but also international component giants such as Valeo, Mahler, Continental, BorgWarner, and Rheinmetall, as well as domestic component companies such as Huayu Automotive and Sanhua Intelligent Control, are accelerating their efforts to enter the new energy vehicle thermal management system market.
Take the beachhead in the thermal management system market
At the Shanghai Auto Show, Valeo showcased its thermal management system and in-cabin comfort solutions suitable for multiple scenarios and climates, including an innovative heat pump system that uses refrigerant to convert air energy into power, effectively heating, cooling, and defogging the cabin.
The heat pump in the MAHLE thermal management system can concentrate the heat generated by components such as batteries, traction motors, and power electronics, and upgrade them to provide heating for the cabin."We have obtained the approval for the mass production of heat pumps, and the mass production project will be carried out in China," the Chairman and CEO of the Management Board of the Mahler Group told the media.MAHLE is also working with Faurecia to develop innovative cabin thermal management technologies.
In BorgWarner's multi-faceted thermal management solution, including the cockpit and battery heater, the battery heater has a fast response characteristic that enables temperature management of the battery and cockpit.The high-pressure cabin heater can create a comfortable cabin interior space with its zonal heating and core temperature sensing capabilities.
Webasto also integrates the thermal management system into the lower housing, making the system more integrated and the thermal management more effective.
The thermal management system showcased by Continental Group incorporates cutting-edge technologies such as a new multi-way valve, specifically a coolant flow control valve, to meet the heating and cooling needs of the entire vehicle in a more energy-efficient manner.The thermal management system for electric vehicles is slated to commence mass production in China by the end of 2019.
Heat pump air conditioning ensures low energy consumption for heating
At present, most electric vehicles mainly use electric heaters to increase temperature, resulting in a reduction in driving range and charging cycle.How to deal with changing and even extreme climate conditions, while improving the comfort of riding and ensuring the endurance mileage, is a problem that must be solved in the development process of electric vehicles.
In electric vehicles, batteries and electric drive systems replace the engine, and the air conditioning system of electric vehicles has undergone significant changes compared to traditional automotive air conditioning systems.Firstly, in the refrigeration mode, the power source for refrigerant circulation is provided by an electric compressor;Secondly, in the heating mode, it is necessary to find a heat source to replace the engine coolant, such as PTC, water heating cycle, etc.From the trend, to ensure low energy consumption heating, heat pump air conditioning is a better solution, its coefficient of performance is 2-3 times higher than PTC heating, and the cruising range can be increased by more than 20%. Nissan Leaf, Toyota Prius, BMW i3, Volkswagen electric Golf and other models have been mass-produced and installed.It is expected that by 2020, the domestic heat pump penetration rate will reach 10%, and by 2025, it will reach 30%.
