Any electric vehicle features a battery capable of varying degrees of performance in different temperatures. But the Chevrolet Volt’s 435-pound battery pack has been specially designed to remain at the right temperature no matter what, thanks to active thermal management.“Every battery has a temperature sweet spot where it provides the optimal blend of power output, energy capacity and long life and we keep the Volt right on that target,” said Bill Wallace, General Motors director of Global Battery Systems. Batteries that are too cold are reluctant to release electrons while batteries that run too hot can see a significantly shorter life.
The Volt’s T-shaped battery pack surrounds a cooling fan, and the design of the pack ensures proper temperature distribution. Additionally, the battery pack features its own cooling circuit that is similar to, but independent from, the engine cooling system.
“Three different systems are used to regulate the temperature of the coolant,” said Wallace. “When the Volt is plugged in and charging in cold weather, an electric heater at the front of the battery pack is used to warm the coolant and pre-heat the battery. During normal operations, the coolant is passed through a heat exchanger at the front of the car, while a chiller in the air conditioning circuit can be used to dissipate heat from the battery when temperatures really climb.”
The longevity and reliability of the battery are among the biggest challenges in the development of an electric car. But, thanks to GM’s experience in building and testing fuel cell stacks (remember the EV1?), GM engineers and researchers were able to employ clever thinking to maintain even temperature distribution in the Chevy Volt.
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