TotalEnergies wants to drown batteries for their own good

TotalEnergies makes a new breakthrough in the development of its battery cooling technology via immersion.

TotalEnergies presents a unique prototype of a consumer vehicle equipped with an immersion cooling system. This advancement is based on the revolutionary fluid « Cell-Shield », which promises to optimize electric vehicle performance while meeting the challenges of tomorrow’s e-mobility.

In 2022, the « Cell-Shield » technology was applied to a plug-in hybrid Volvo XC90, replacing its conventional cooling system with immersion cooling. The results were impressive, with reduced charging times, improved thermal management, enhanced safety, and a reduction in battery cost and weight. All of this was achieved without major modifications to the design or the battery itself, demonstrating the ease of integrating this solution.

When liquid and electricity work well together

This technology has now been extended to a 100% electric consumer vehicle, a Renault Mégane E-Tech. By adopting this system, TotalEnergies demonstrates that immersion cooling can be scaled up while maintaining competitive costs. The benefits for users are clear, with an estimated 6% increase in driving range.

The importance of battery cooling cannot be underestimated. With the rise of electric vehicles, thermal management of batteries becomes crucial to meet fast-charging requirements and ensure optimal performance. Immersion cooling is a credible solution because it minimizes issues related to lithium cell overheating while also improving battery durability and safety.

Thanks to the properties of the « Cell-Shield » fluid, this technology also provides protection against thermal runaway, ensuring user safety. The question remains whether large-scale adoption is feasible.

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