Energy Sources and Battery Thermal Energy Management Technologies for Electrical Vehicles: A Technical Comprehensive Review

Abstract

Electric vehicles are increasingly seen as a viable alternative to conventional combustion-engine vehicles, offering advantages such as lower emissions and enhanced energy efficiency. The critical role of batteries in EVs drives the need for high-performance, cost-effective, and safe solutions, where thermal management is key to ensuring optimal performance and longevity. This study is motivated by the need to address the limitations of current battery thermal management systems (BTMS), particularly the effectiveness of cooling methods in maintaining safe operating temperatures. The hypothesis is that immersion cooling offers superior thermal regulation compared to the widely used indirect liquid cooling approach. Using MATLAB Simulink, this research investigates the dynamic thermal behaviour of three cooling systems, including air cooling, indirect liquid cooling, and immersion cooling, by comparing their performance with an uncooled battery. The results show that immersion cooling outperforms indirect liquid cooling in terms of temperature control and safety, providing a more efficient solution. These findings challenge the existing literature, positioning immersion cooling as the optimal BTMS. The main contribution of this paper lies in its comprehensive evaluation of cooling technologies and its validation of immersion cooling as a superior method for enhancing EV battery performance.