Thermal Management in Battery-Electric & Hybrid Vehicles in Cold Climate

This document explores advanced thermal management approaches for battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) operating in extreme cold climate conditions down to -20°C. The research investigates the integration of heat pumps, phase change material (PCM)-based heat batteries, PTC heaters, and waste heat recovery systems to optimise cabin heating, battery temperature control, energy consumption, and overall vehicle efficiency.

Using system-level thermal modelling and comparative heating scenarios, the study evaluates how multi-loop thermal architectures can reduce heating energy demand, improve passenger comfort, mitigate battery degradation, and maintain battery performance during cold-start and low-temperature driving conditions. The results demonstrate that combining heat pumps with heat storage and vehicle waste heat recovery can significantly reduce overall energy consumption while improving cabin warm-up capability and extending electric vehicle operational efficiency in cold environments.