Mahle: New battery housing for less CO2

Mahle: New battery housing for less CO2

The central parameter for the acceptance of electric vehicles is the achievement of a sufficient range. Instead of using ever larger batteries, Mahle offers a solution for increasing the rapid charging capability of the battery with a newly developed battery housing with integrated thermal management. Traction batteries can be around 40 percent smaller and can be recharged very quickly. Mahle not only reduces CO2₂footprint of the electric vehicle, but also reduces the need for raw materials for battery production, which are becoming increasingly scarce worldwide. In order to be able to achieve the necessary high cooling performance during the rapid charging process, the battery cells are directly surrounded by a dielectric fluid as part of Mahle's battery housing concept. The fiber-reinforced plastic construction used is not only light but also extremely durable. The concept also offers massive weight advantages in the vehicle thanks to the smaller battery.

“With our new battery housing concept, we are making electric vehicles more economical and more environmentally friendly – ​​while remaining attractive to customers,” explains Otmar Scharrer, Head of Research and Advanced Development at Mahle. “Not only the moderate production costs, but also the lack of expensive, high-performance batteries are helping to bring affordable electric vehicles onto the market across the board.” The need to cool the battery and power electronics creates complex circuits that significantly increase the demands on individual components and control in the area of ​​thermal management. Mahle has been supporting the increasing electrification of the drive train and the resulting increasing requirements from the very beginning and is continually expanding its expertise in research and development.