Electric-Drive Vehicle Thermal Management

NREL collaborates with automotive industry partners to research and develop techniques that will reduce cooling and heating loads on electric-drive vehicles (EDVs) to improve driving range.

Energy needed for climate control can significantly reduce electric-drive vehicle (EDV) range, in some cases by as much as 68%. The lack of engine waste heat, combined with an electric-drive system's greater thermal management requirements, make balancing power needs and cabin comfort in electric-drive vehicles difficult. NREL research explores technologies to improve thermal efficiency and EDV range while maintaining thermal comfort.

An initial goal is to increase EDV range by 10% with improved thermal management during operation of the climate control system. This will help reduce drivers' range anxiety and, ultimately, will help increase customer acceptance of EDVs. Improving thermal comfort may also improve safety through reduced driver thermal distraction.

Related research is exploring the benefits of combining thermal management systems in vehicles with electric powertrains. By decreasing the number and weight of fluid loops, NREL researchers are working to reduce climate control energy consumption and increase EDV range.

Models and Tools

CoolSim: Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning Model

VSOLE: Vehicle Solar Load Estimator

Publications

Ford AZTECS Vehicle – Thermal Testing; Cooperative Research and Development Final Report, NREL Technical Report (2020)

Contact

To learn more about our LDV thermal management research or explore partnership opportunities, please reach out.