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The market for electric vehicles is exploding.However, there are some elements that are overlooked but could make the difference between what you want and what you get: the cooling of EV batteries. Especially as electric cars continue to rank among the most flammable vehicles.
Maintaining batteries at the ideal temperature is what guarantees safety, performance, and the vehicle’s longevity, even when range, quick charging, and design make the news. It’s also something to remember.
Different solutions have been created by Tesla, Ford, and GM to address the same issue. Ford and GM have chosen to employ cold plates at the battery’s base, whereas Tesla uses tubes that wind between the cells. Every tactic has benefits, but they all work toward the same goal: keeping one of the car’s most costly and vulnerable components safe from heat damage.
Heat: the worst enemy of EVs
Indeed, it is among the primary issues with electric cars. Lithium-ion batteries have a tendency to overheat quickly, which naturally reduces battery life and performance. As we mentioned, they can occasionally even catch fire, which can be fatal. Because of this, thermal control is now as crucial as the engine itself.
Air conditioning was used by the first EVs, such as the Nissan Leaf. In essence, they did the work by relying on the air flowing through. That sounds almost naive today. Since liquid cooling is so much more efficient, the majority of manufacturers have now made the move. It regulates temperatures using a coolant-powered closed-loop mechanism.
This is how Tesla does it:
Tesla took its own route as usual. They chose to use tubes that practically snake between the battery cells rather than cold plates like other companies. As little veins of coolness. The system has been improved over time; for instance, the coolant in the Model S now flows via smaller groups of cells rather than big blocks. They will be able to regulate the temperature more accurately in this way.
Furthermore, they enhanced the heat dissipation by improving the contact between the tubes and the cells. It’s a highly integrated system that is reminiscent of Tesla’s approach to creating everything from the ground up.
Ford and GM go for cold plates
However, the well-known cold plates were a simpler solution adopted by Ford and General Motors. The heat is transferred to the liquid cooling system using metal sheets that are placed directly at the base of the cells, or the anode, where the majority of the heat accumulates. It uses less space and is a very effective way.
Additionally, Ford uses metal battery casings to further aid in heat dissipation. With models like the Hummer EV, GM went one step further with this technique, using the same configuration to warm the batteries when maximum power is required in addition to cooling them.
Which system is better?
Neither one is superior than the other. Each has advantages. Although Tesla’s method is more adaptable and works flawlessly with its cylindrical 4680 batteries, cold plates are more compact and enable direct cooling, which increases energy density.
Whatever the case, it’s obvious that liquid cooling has prevailed. Manufacturers who invest in improved thermal management will outperform those who stick to passive methods.
Batteries are not self-cooling. Additionally, they deteriorate, perform poorly, or just break if it’s not done correctly. For this reason, Tesla, Ford, and GM are spending just as much money on heat management as they are on increasing power output. Even though 0 to 100 in three seconds may seem impressive, the unseen system that keeps the electric revolution going is what saves the car’s heart from melting, isn’t it?
