Shell Lubricants has developed and demonstrated a high-performance thermal regulation fluid for electric vehicles. This fluid helps reduce battery charging time without compromising its safety, thermal stability, and lifespan.
In collaboration with the British RML Group, a battery pack with a capacity of 34 kWh was developed. The pack was filled with Shell EV-Plus Thermal Fluid, which reduces thermal stress, allowing it to withstand significantly higher charging currents for the battery cells. Charging the battery from 10% to 80% capacity takes less than 10 minutes.
According to Shell’s calculations, for a lightweight and aerodynamic electric car with an efficiency of 10 km/kWh, this means a "refueling" rate of about 24 km of range per minute of charging - five times higher than most production EVs today (5 km per minute). Acceleration occurs due to performance optimization and a significant reduction in the number and mass of components.
The EV-Plus fluid is electrically non-conductive and fills all the space inside the battery pack, providing uniform cooling for each cell and protecting against overheating and thermal runaway. This allows for the creation of compact, lightweight, and structurally simpler battery systems.
The thermal regulation technology presented in this joint project is designed for compact battery packs - elegant and economical. Shell noted that the technology could remove key barriers to the widespread adoption of electric vehicles: the fear of insufficient range and long charging times.
Source: Shell
